San Fernando Valley Economic Alliance's Livable Community Initiative

James Morris is an attorney with The Burbank Firm, in Burbank, California. Over the course of his more than 30 years of experience as an attorney, James Morris has served on the board of numerous organizations, including more than ten years with the Economic Alliance of the San Fernando Valley, of which he is a founding member.

Now named The Valley Economic Alliance, this organization focuses on four primary initiatives: economic development and retention, education and workforce development, marketing the Valley, and livable and sustainable communities.

In order to achieve this final goal, the alliance teams up with government and educational institutions, the dedicated Livable Communities Council, and other local organizations to realize a higher quality of life for both the employees of their affiliated businesses, and the San Fernando Valley population in general.

The Livable Community Initiative has contributed to the development of transit improvements, architectural regulations, regional statistics, and public policy discussions. Underlying all of the organization’s actions is the goal to improve the environmental friendliness of the region.

The Probate Process in Estate Planning

An attorney with more than 30 years of experience, James Morris is the principal attorney at the Burbank Firm, LC, located in Burbank, California. James Morris has tried more than 150 cases to verdict during his career as an attorney, and focuses on estate planning, trusts, and probate.

The term “probate” may be an unfamiliar one to the layperson. In general, it describes how the legal system will process one’s estate upon their death. Probate occurs whether or not the deceased prepared a valid will. If a will exists, the document will determine what occurs during probate - how the estate will be altered, and between whom it will be divided. If a will does not exist, the probate process involves looking to the laws of the deceased’s locality to determine the division of the estate.

In the latter instance, probate is the only way the estate can be divided between its legal recipients. The probate court administers orders that allow the transfer of assets, and ensures any necessary debts are paid. Probate can also assist the family by holding potential creditors to the strict deadlines by which they must abide.

The Burbank Firm helps clients through the probate process from start to finish, managing tax issues, creditor claims, litigation, and any disagreements that may arise between beneficiaries.