Estate Planning

If you recently received a serious medical diagnosis, you may be reevaluating your estate planning. Perhaps you’re considering using a medical power of attorney. In case of an emergency or if things take a turn for the worse, you want to choose an agent who can help...

Many Americans have a will, which allows them to instruct how their estate should be managed after they pass away – including naming beneficiaries to inherit the deceased’s assets. Before a beneficiary receives any inheritance, they may need to wait for the probate...

Many people who pass away have an estate plan in place. At the very least, they have written a will that specifies how they want to split up their major assets. They may also have detailed information about minor assets and family heirlooms. They could have drafted a...

Identity theft – which often involves someone trying to steal your identifying information and using it to open credit cards, obtain loans and more in your name – is a big problem these days. Believe it or not, you can’t even stop worrying about identity theft once...

When making an estate plan, it’s important to deal with debt as well as assets. Your assets will get passed on to the next generation, and you can use your estate plan to do this. You could put financial assets in a trust, for instance, or just leave them to someone...

When people think of a power of attorney, they often start by considering a medical power of attorney. This document legally gives someone else the ability to make healthcare decisions for you. If you become incapacitated, this is very helpful because they can work...

If you don’t want anyone to challenge your estate plan, you may consider using a no-contest clause. This clause states that a will contest is not allowed and that your beneficiaries are simply supposed to accept whatever you have decided. They may not agree with it,...

When creating an estate plan, one thing you may want to focus on is making advanced medical decisions. You know you could become incapacitated in the future, such as if you suffer from an unexpected heart attack. You can use your estate plan to make some medical...

Generally speaking, people who draft wills in California are going to type them on a computer and file the paperwork. California law does state that people need to be at least 18 years old to be eligible for this process, and they need to have the mental capacity to...

To begin with, there are many ways in which grandparents can be great guardians. They do love their children. They also raised those children’s parents, so they know what they’re doing. They want to have a close relationship, and they can provide stability and...