Estate planning refers to the process of determining what happens to your assets after your death. While many people in California don’t want to think about their own mortality, most financial experts recommend having an estate plan. While the process may seem...
Estate Planning
The importance of succession planning for your business
California business owners need to think about creating a succession plan for their company. This is an important element of estate planning and helps ensure that your business continues running smoothly if that is your wish. Preparing for your departure Succession...
Estate planning fundamentals
A comprehensive estate plan helps you get your financial house in order and provides a way to shield your California assets from seizure and federal and state estate taxes. An estate plan also allows you to appoint one or more trustworthy individuals to handle your...
Tips on talking to your parents about estate planning
Many California residents understand the importance of estate planning. If your parents have never discussed this issue with you, it’s possible they haven’t begun to make these arrangements, and you should talk to them about where they stand. Include your siblings If...
Do I need a living trust?
Living trusts are legal documents that California residents often include in their estate plans to give them more control over how their assets will be distributed after they pass away and to avoid the probate process. The person who creates a living trust is called...
Tips for picking your power of attorney in California
Setting up a power of attorney is a crucial part of estate planning in California. Should California residents fall into a coma or end up unable to make their own decisions, their power of attorney will make their financial and legal decisions. Why do you need a power...
Learn more about a testamentary trust
Coming up with an estate plan in California is an essential part of planning for the end of your life and managing your assets so that the recipients of your estate receive the portion that you intended for them. Requesting that a testamentary trust be set up after...
Estate planning for California grandparents
Estate planning is essential for all California residents, including grandparents. Grandparents have unique considerations when planning their estate, such as how to distribute their assets among their children and grandchildren while minimizing taxes and other...
Undue influence in estate planning
It can be hard for California families to cope with the loss of a loved one. Added to their grief are the questions they might have if their loved one has made changes to their estate plan that seem exceptionally out of character. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for...
What happens when a beneficiary dies during probate?
Probate proceedings in California and around the country verify that wills are valid, provide for the payment of outstanding debts and taxes, and ensure that heirs receive their inheritances. But what happens if one of the beneficiaries passes away before the process...