Darling & Wilson, PC Legal Blog
3 levels of advance medical decisions
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...
Are oral wills recognized in California?
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...
Why grandparents may not be the best guardians
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...
Can you form an LLC without a partner?
Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) are generally lauded for their ability to combine the ease of use of a sole proprietorship or general partnership with the benefits of a corporation. But can you create an LLC if you’re just a one-person show, without a partner or...
For California trust beneficiaries: A compassionate guide
Receiving an inheritance through a trust can evoke a mix of emotions—anticipation, grief and perhaps even confusion. If you have recently lost a loved one and expect to benefit from a trust fund they left behind, this short guide can help during the early aftermath....
Using a medical power of attorney after a cancer diagnosis
There are many times when you may want to update your estate plan. One of them is if you receive a serious diagnosis. For instance, maybe you’ve recently been diagnosed with cancer. You do feel optimistic about the options that your medical team has come up with, but...
Who can contest a will?
Once a person makes an estate plan, they tend to assume that their assets will be passed down according to those wishes. They likely don’t expect that someone might decide to contest their will. However, this is a possibility. With this said, it’s important to note...
What should you consider when creating a special needs trust?
Estate planning is a great way of helping to ensure that your loved ones are provided for and your assets are distributed according to your wishes after you pass away. This includes those with special needs, whose care and financial security can be safeguarded through...
Filing final tax returns is a key executor responsibility
“In this world nothing is certain but death and taxes,” according to Ben Franklin. If you’re the executor of a loved one’s estate, you’re probably thinking about both of these things right now. One of the many responsibilities of an executor is to file the deceased’s...
Why do all adults need a digital estate plan?
Take a minute to consider what you do online every day. How many accounts do you access that require a login? What do you store in the Cloud? Do your loved ones know how to access your digital footprint in these ways and what you’d like done on your behalf in the...