Estate Planning

A change to California law that took effect with estates being administered in 2026 can make things a bit easier for trustees and beneficiaries – and bring California probate procedures regarding trusts more in line with the rest of the country. The amended law states...

For many people, some of the most important parts of life no longer live in a filing cabinet or a desk drawer. They exist behind login screens, password vaults and cloud accounts. From financial management to family photos and personal communications, a person’s...

It’s not uncommon for people to discover they have been named an estate’s executor after the death of the testator (the person who created the will). This often leads to more confusion during a time of grief, which can potentially affect one’s ability to serve...

How you store your estate planning documents is critical. Preventing loss, damage and unauthorized access should be a priority. Besides, you don’t want your executor to go through complicated steps to access them during estate administration. Here is how you can store...

Spendthrift trusts are very useful for those who have loved ones with less than stellar records of managing their money. But those are not the only beneficiaries for whom spendthrift trusts are useful vehicles.  Read on to learn more about other reasons to fund a...

Passing property to your loved ones should not be complicated, expensive or public, which is often the case when an estate passes through probate. This court-supervised process of transferring property after death remains the default path for many California families...

When people purchase real estate, they acquire title rights. They sign a deed that includes specific language about their ownership arrangements. Many people hold title in a simple manner. They simply include the names of all owners on the deed as joint owners. There...

Receiving a substantial inheritance after a loved one passes away often feels like a mixed blessing. You may now have life-changing financial resources, but the toll was losing someone you care about. Along with emotional complications, your inheritance can also...

It’s easy to assume that your spouse, adult child or a trusted relative could just step in and take care of things for you when you’re incapacitated. However, that’s not how it works. Without proper legal authority, no one can act on your behalf, despite your...

Creating an estate plan requires you to carefully consider what you want to happen to your assets when you pass away. Having this plan in place provides your loved ones with clear instructions to follow, but you must also determine the best way to achieve your goals....