We are also confused by these happenings, many of which are abby normal even for California.
Throw in a crazy real estate market on top of the normal crazy, and you get super crazy.
Homes that were selling for a couple of hundred K a few years ago are now selling for a Million plus.
That brings out all types of greed from owners and their off spring. When seniors get remarried, they want to stay with their growing nest egg. Their adult children grow very wary of any new step parents due to the home values. This creates some weird living arrangements.
Our trust lawyer is working 7 days a week trying to keep up with the changes in real estate value and trying to keep those with merging homes and their adult children satisfied with their trusts.