Where to Store Your Estate Planning Documents: A Guide to Safe-Keeping
You’ve crossed the finish line of estate planning – Congratulations! Your carefully drafted estate planning documents are executed and ready to carry out your wishes. But hold on, the journey’s not quite over. Now comes the crucial question: where the heck do you…
How to Make Your Inheritance Last
Most people believe that receiving a large inheritance from a loved one would be life-changing. At least one study, however, found that about one-third of Americans who had received an inheritance eventually experienced a decrease or no change in their wealth after…
The Importance of Funding Your Trust
Creating a Trust is a significant step in securing your estate and ensuring your wishes are honored during incapacity or after death. However, simply establishing a Trust isn’t enough – funding your Trust is crucial to its effectiveness. Here’s why funding your Trust…
Exploring Alternatives to Probate for Real Estate in California
When it comes to transferring real estate after a property owner passes away without proper estate planning, probate may be the only option. Probate can be time-consuming, expensive, and oftentimes leads to delays in distributing assets to heirs. Fortunately, in…
Answers to Common Estate Planning Questions
As an estate planning attorney, my goal is to educate my clients and potential clients about the importance of estate planning, and what it can do for them. I believe estate planning is important for everybody, and want to squash the myth that it’s only for those with…
Is Your Estate Planning up to Date?
Estate planning is essential for families of all sizes, wealth and accumulated assets. Estate planning also encompasses essential documents, such as financial powers of attorney and health care directives that often save your loved ones from having to guess your…
Benefits and Disadvantages of Transfer on Death Deeds
California law allows a transferor (party who owns the property) of real property to name a specific beneficiary or multiple beneficiaries, who will inherit the real property upon the transferor’s death. Currently the law is set to continue until January 1, 2032,…
What Is the Difference Between a Will and a Trust?
Planning for the future is a crucial aspect of financial and personal well-being, and is often overlooked. Two commonly used tools in estate planning are wills and trusts. While both serve the purpose of distributing assets upon one’s death, they differ significantly…
Estate Planning: Alarming Statistics for Americans
Planning for death and incapacity is not fun, but it’s one of the most important steps you can take to protect your loved ones, and your legacy. It is estimated that in 2024 only 32% of Americans have an estate plan! This is actually a 6% drop from 2023. That means…
Top Estate Planning Mistakes California Families Make
Estate planning is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your loved ones and ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes. Creating a Trust is a great start to planning for incapacity or death. However, many people make critical…