Estate Planning

In the modern world, families can look a lot different than they did when you were growing up. They can have the typical mother, father and kids, or they can comprise two adults who never plan to have children. Like many others, you may think you do not need estate...

One consideration people sometimes overlook when estate planning is appointing a power of attorney. It’s something that many think of as only needing to be done when you become unwell, but in fact, the earlier you arrange it, the better. You can choose someone to have...

As you do your estate planning, you realize that you probably cannot plan everything out so that your heirs don’t have to take care of any details. If you were to pass away unexpectedly, for instance, someone would still have to pay the property taxes and your income...

When you ask people why they haven’t created an estate plan, one of the main reasons they’ll give you is simply that they are procrastinating. They won’t say it this way, necessarily. But they’ll talk about how it’s something that they mean to do in the future or how...

A will is more than putting your last wishes on paper. It is a legal document enforceable by a court, and it must be legal and valid. Otherwise, it might be declared null and void when distributing your estate. Can the document you have withstand the legal test when...

Thinking about the end of your life may not be at the top of your list of things to do – but planning now can provide peace of mind down the road.  End-of-life planning, more commonly called estate planning, is all about getting plans in place to help manage risks...

While there’s no state inheritance tax in California, that doesn’t mean you’re completely in the clear from taxes after a loved one dies. For example, you may have to pay capital gains tax if you inherit property and then sell it. However, fortunately, it’s not as bad...

As someone creating or updating an estate plan in California, your life insurance likely plays a significant role in your plans. Your life insurance may be how you intend to replace your income to help support your family or how you intend to cover funeral costs and...

If you are new to estate planning, you might not understand what one or more powers of attorney can do for you and your family. These legal documents empower you to address several different issues in your estate plan. As a bonus, well-drafted powers of attorney can...

A California Advance Health Care Directive is a crucial part of any estate plan. All adults can benefit from having one in place because it allows you to make your wishes for medical treatment or ending of treatment known if you’re unable to speak for yourself.  Most...