Estate Planning

A Payable On Death account, or a POD account, gives you a new option to transfer assets to others. You name a beneficiary on a bank account or another eligible financial account. When you pass away, the beneficiary provides the death certificate or notice to the...

It can be difficult for parents and children to have a conversation about estate planning. Some people feel uncomfortable talking about the end of their life. Others feel uncomfortable talking about money and financial assets. But it’s still an important conversation...

Estate planning is crucial for securing your legacy and ensuring your wishes are honored.  However, several mistakes can undermine your intentions and create complications for your heirs. Avoiding these common mistakes can save your beneficiaries time, money and...

Managing an estate is a critical aspect of handling a person's affairs after they pass away. This is especially true in California where the laws and regulations can be intricate and demanding.  An essential person in this process is the estate executor. This...

This year, California enacted a “next-of-kin” law that allows medical facilities to designate a surrogate to speak and make decisions for a patient who is in a condition where they’re unable to speak for themselves. The law applies only when a patient has no advance...

Many people make estate plans. An estate plan helps people instruct how their assets are distributed after they pass away.  Here are a few common questions you may need to ask as you proceed through the estate planning process. 1. What is an heir and beneficiary? A...

Some people experience a decline in their health as they age which will render them dependent on others for meeting their basic needs. Additionally, many people experience some kind of unanticipated medical emergency at some point in life, such as a blood clot or a...

A durable power-of-attorney represents one of the most essential planning tools for estate planning, Medicaid, and other types of public benefit planning. Upon signing a power-of-attorney, the signer provides what is known as the “agent” power to act on their behalf...

When planning out your estate, you may be able to save your heirs time and money by thinking carefully about the kind of trusts you create. Here are a few trusts that may benefit you: Revocable trust People typically make revocable trusts. This kind of trust can be...

When you first hear about a power of attorney it can sound pretty scary. Like you are being asked to sign over control over your life to someone. You have far more control available than you might realize. Here's what you need to know: You decide what power to give...