I LIVE IN THE WOODLAKE HOMES IN F AIRFIELD, CA, I'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY HOME ASSOCIATIONS FOR MONTHS NOW, IT'S A FAMILY RUN BUSINESS, THIS C

Please take a look at the CC&Rs for your HOA. There are provisions for applying for architectural review or design review of the exterior of your home and the front yard. You probably need to submit a written application for review of your plans. The CC&Rs might require lawn or other plants in the front yard. In light of the recent years of drought, the design review committee might give you a waiver of that requirement, if you applied for one and if what you plan as a substitute will be attractive. It is important that the HOA enforce the CC&Rs about design review against everyone. If they don't, they might lose the right to enforce them entirely. If you appreciate this free advice, please remember to refer me to any friends or acquaintances who need a lawyer. Referrals are still our best source of new business. Do you have a revocable living trust to protect your heirs against probate? Probate takes forever, is expensive, and is annoying. Do your family a favor. Set up a trust, and put all your property, especially any real property, into the trust. Since it is revocable, you can change it, add to it, take property out of it, or even cancel it completely, at any time. We set up such trusts, provide a pour-over will as a back-up for any property that does not make it into the trust, provide you with blank durable powers of attorney for health care and financial decisions, in case you become incapable of making such decisions while still alive, and convey one piece of real property to the trust, usually the family home, for $1500.00. If you would like to hire me to do this, let me know, and I'll send you a list of the information I need. Dana Sack