Estate Planning

Establishing a trust may benefit California residents for a couple of different reasons. First, the trust document takes effect the moment it is executed, which means that someone is immediately available to manage your affairs if you become incapacitated. Assets held...

The main benefits of a trust are to avoid probate and reduce estate taxes. A revocable living trust allows the transfer of personal assets to a trustee and other beneficiaries after a person's death. A trust is one of the most widely used estate planning tools in...

Many California residents are getting ready for life as senior citizens. This is a time for many people to slow down and begin getting the most enjoyment out of life. Before you enjoy retirement, it's important to have plans in place for unexpected circumstances. Here...

There are many ways to provide for your loved ones in California after you pass. You can set up a POD or TOD account to handle this issue. You can also set up a revocable trust. Each of these arrangements has its own unique set of pros and cons. What works best for...

One of the key benefits of an estate plan is that it allows you to dictate how assets such as a California home are allocated after your death. However, it may also provide you with an opportunity to make gifts during your lifetime or ensure that your children are...

One powerful estate planning tool you could have in California is an asset protection trust. But before you use it, it's helpful to know how it works and if it fits your financial goals and unique situation. Asset protection trust (APT) An asset protection trust is an...

Creating a special needs trust in California is a good way to protect a loved one with a physical or mental disability. Here are some facts to know if you're considering doing that. What is a special needs trust? A special needs trust is an estate planning option that...

Estate planning is something that every California adult should do to safeguard their assets and protect their family’s future. You should avoid making these beneficiary designation mistakes. Forgetting to name beneficiaries It’s a big mistake to forget to name...

It's never easy talking to your parents about estate planning in California, but it's a conversation that you must have. If you're not sure where to start, here's a short guide you could use. How to do it You can't just pick up your phone and talk to your parents...

One of the most difficult conversations that we have to have is with our parents about their estate plan. This can be a difficult conversation for many reasons - your parents may be reluctant to discuss death, they may not want to think about what will happen after...