Garcia

FACTS AND PROCEDURAL HISTORY

1. Background Lupe is the daughter of Jose H. Sanchez and Catalina Iracheta de Sanchez. During their marriage, Jose and Catalina acquired real property on Great Oak Circle and Roseview Avenue in Los Angeles County, which they held as joint tenants. In 1984, Jose and Catalina executed a will (the 1984 Will) that granted each spouse a life estate in the real property and provided that, upon the surviving spouse’s death, Lupe would inherit Great Oak Circle. The remaining real and personal property would be divided equally among Lupe and her three half-siblings (Catalina’s children from a previous marriage). After Catalina died in 1987, Jose married Cecilia. They had one son, Jose H. Sanchez, Jr. On May 15, 1990, Jose recorded an “Affidavit—Death of Joint Tenant” that conveyed the title of Great Oak Circle to himself and Lupe as joint tenants. On February 1, 1996, Jose recorded a deed

Because some individuals in this case have the same or similar last names, we use first names for clarity.

2 conveying his interest in Great Oak Circle to himself as trustee of the Jose H. Sanchez Revocable Trust of January 26, 1996. In 1999, Jose revoked his…