RJM LAWYER 

What Is a Series LLC? A Series LLC  is a special type of limited liability company that allows one parent LLC  to create multiple legally distinct series (or “cells”)  under a single structure. Each series can: Own its own assets Run a separate business Enter into contracts Have its own liabilities At the same time, the Series LLC allows you to centralize administration, payroll, and management  instead of duplicating everything across multiple standalone LLCs. For business o

Blended families are increasingly common throughout the United States, and with that comes a complex web of financial, emotional, and legal considerations. When two people marry later in life or after a divorce—with children from previous relationships—the question of who inherits what  becomes more than just a minor detail. It becomes a cornerstone of long-term family stability. A revocable living trust  (RLT) is one of the single most important tools a blended family can pu

A revocable living trust is not just a tool that holds property. It's the glue that holds your family together! The only question is do you want that glue to be the cheap nonadhesive stuff you buy at the dollar store OR the NASA grade stuff that will hold anything together?    Why a Revocable Living Trust? Control, control, control. With a revocable living trust (RLT) you're in the drivers seat. This means you decide how and when your child or children receive their inheritan

Avoid probate. Protect your family. Stay in control. Owning a home is a major milestone. It’s often the cornerstone of a family’s financial life, and in many cases, it’s the single largest asset a person will ever own. But surprisingly, most homeowners never take the step that truly protects that asset—and their family—when they’re gone. They assume that having “a will” is enough. It isn’t. If you want to avoid probate, prevent court interference, protect your children, maint

Most business owners spend their energy building, expanding, and optimizing their companies. They fine-tune marketing strategies, negotiate supplier contracts, and hire the right teams. But there’s another side to entrepreneurship — one that doesn’t show up on the highlight reels; and that's protecting what you’ve built, so that when the storm hits your not left out to dry. And believe me, the storm always hits. The only question is, the scale. In today’s litigious socie

Most people don’t understand the simple truth about entrepreneurship and property ownership: The law doesn’t care about your intentions — it cares about structure. And when you own property in your personal name or you operate “as yourself” under a sole proprietorship……you are essentially loading a bullet into the chamber, spinning it, placing the barrel to your temple — and pulling the trigger with every deal, every tenant, every video shoot, every subcontractor, every clien

When most rental property owners talk about “asset protection,” they start with entities: “Should I use an LLC?”“Should I use series LLCs?”“Should I put my properties in trusts?” This all matters, but here’s the real truth that nobody dares to say out loud: The first battle is never fought in a courtroom. It’s fought on paperwork  — which in turn will determine whether you have a big or not so big situation. And for landlords and property investors, the single most powerful d

When most people think about asset protection, they picture LLCs, insurance policies, or complicated offshore structures. Lawyers and financial planners talk endlessly about trusts, layered entities, and legal 'walls' designed to keep creditors or plaintiffs at bay. But here’s the reality: the strongest form of protection isn’t always legal—it’s psychological. It’s the absence of a target. In other words: before you even get to insurance, LLCs, or attorneys, your first line o

Protect your assets in California with LLCs, Wyoming holding companies, and trusts. Learn how to stay anonymous, avoid lawsuits, and secure your wealth. Why Asset Protection Matters in California California is one of the most litigious states in the country. If you own property, operate a business, or invest in real estate, your personal assets could be at risk from lawsuits, creditors, or unforeseen liabilities. That’s why smart investors and entrepreneurs use LLCs, trusts,

Whether you're a landlord or a tenant, the truth of the matter is, EVICTIONS suck! UNLAWFUL DETAINER ACTION In California, the eviction process is referred to as an unlawful detainer action, or UDA for short. This is the process a landlord must take in order to lawfully retake possession of their property. Basically, the days when a landlord could change the locks or forcibly remove a tenant against their will, are long gone. Today, the law is clear. If you want a tenan

NOW, you might be too young, work too much, or just haven't had time to think about it, but there is something out there called "beneficiary designations" that you can use in lieu of a trust or will, and that will literally cost you nothing, other than half an hour of your time. Sound interesting? It should. Here's the breakdown: Beneficiary Designations go by many names: transfer on death (TOD), payable on death (POD), inheriting party, in trust for (ITF), etc. Whatev

The MAIN beneficiary of your Estate Plan, is your FAMILY. If you asked me 20-YEARS AGO about Estate Planning, I would have looked at you with a BLANK FACE. Fast-forward twenty-years, and I'm an estate planning attorney. Contrary to popular opinion, Estate Planning is not just a fancy word lawyers made up to add to their infinite lexicon of fancy words. Estate Planning is actually a functional word that embodies the process of controlling the what, when, and how your assets

Have you ever been told that there is "more than one way to skin a cat?" Well, it turns out that this saying is actually true, as least when it comes to probate, and more specifically, how to avoid it. Probate is when your loved one dies without a trust and/or has a will and YOU, the child or named executor of their will has to file a probate petition and start the long arduous process of probating their estate. Not exactly a trip to Disneyland if you know what I mean. H

PROBATE is long, costly, and sometimes, contentious. Further, and in certain circumstances, it cannot be avoided. But this article isn't about the horrors of probate, but instead, about the silver-lining that lives within the realm of probate, that most people are unaware of. The Spousal Property Petition: The spousal property petition is a legal process in California that allows surviving spouses or domestic partners to affirm or assume full ownership of certain property wit

Before I begin, I know I'm going to get FLAK for this blog. But that’s alright, as an attorney, getting flak comes with the job, and I'm good with that. Because at the end of the day, if some of you walk away from this blog a little more informed about PRENUPS, how they work, the likelihood you’ll ever need one, and whether they’re the right fit for you, well then I've done my job, and for me, that is the reward. Let me start by addressing the elephant in the room. YES, I un

"Life can feel like going up shit creek without a PADDLE!" -My younger self. Contrary to the foregoing, filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is not the worst thing in the world. In fact, it's not even that bad. "But wait," "Ruben-Have you lost your mind!? -Bankruptcy, not that bad, "What's the Catch?" No catch! Just FACTS. Foreword: A common misconception, and by common, I mean virtually everyone believes this, is that bankruptcy will existentially ruin them, and that life post-

"5-THINGS YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT ESTATE PLANNING" READER WARNING: IF YOU ARE EASILY OFFENDED, OPEN-MINDED BUT ONLY WHEN IT ALIGNS WITH YOUR OPINION, AN IDEOLOGUE BUT NOT A GOOD ONE, OR THINK BAMBI'S MOM (SPOILER ALERT) SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN KILLED IN DISNEY'S CULT CLASSIC MOVIE ABOUT LOSS AND NEW BEGINNINGS, THEN YOU SHOULD STOP READING RIGHT NOW!......................................................... FOR EVERYONE ELSE, ENJOY! Foreword: As the title suggests, this BLOG

Is court a necessary evil? Maybe. But does that mean we have to like it?--Absolutely not! INTRO I have yet to meet someone that absolutely revels in the idea of a contentious no-holds-barred court battle! But Ruben, you're probably muttering, I've watched live court TV, read newspapers, and have even watched My Cousin Vinny (great movie by the way); I know to a mathematical certainty that lawyers love to argue and people are naturally litigious. Look, a broken clock is ri

Before we jump into the confusing and sometimes convoluted world of taxes, gains, and trusts; let's start with something easy, you know, like introducing ourselves. I'll start! My name is Ruben J. Martinez, and as many of you know I am RJM Lawyer. Practice wise, I do a lot of things, but mostly, I do estate planning. It's kind of my thing. Everything from the trendy living trust, to the refined family trust, to the special needs, medicaid protection, pets, and life insu

"If Government Benefits Matter, then you need a Special Needs Trust!" As parents-- The perpetual question we ask ourselves is, "when we die, will my children be okay?".... "will they be taken care of?"... and "if I die today, will I have planned for tomorrow?" Some of us mull over this more than others, but regardless, we all think about it. After all, it's kind of our job, right? Special Needs Trust Defined: A special needs trust is a type of trust designed for a person w