If you have one or more heirs with unhealthy spending habits, providing for them after your death comes with many challenges. You want to leave them enough to live on or help them through financial hardships while keeping the bulk of their inheritance protected....
Most people feel that meeting the needs of their families is the most important part of estate planning. However, California estate plans have plenty of room for you to address your own needs and wishes, too. In other words, you do not have to choose between what you...
When you choose someone to be your power of attorney, whether you're considering a medical situation or the need to carry out financial processes, you need to make sure you have the right person. This may be a family member or a very close friend, as is common, but...
Frequently, people neglect to consider what will happen in the event of their death. Often, this is due to a perceived morbidity over estate planning. However, estate planning can actually have a positive emotional impact and could also offer security to your loved...
A trust is a legal arrangement whereby a third party holds your assets on behalf of one or more beneficiaries. Trusts can be established to transfer assets to heirs seamlessly. With the proper setup, a trust may also be beneficial to your estate in terms of saving...
Those who have heard the term probate in estate planning know that it is advisable to avoid it. But why should you avoid probate? Is there a minimum amount of assets that trigger probate? With a will, is probate necessary? Below are answers to some of these common...
If you’re like most people, you probably assume that when you pass away, a family member or friend will happily give your beloved pet a good home. Maybe they’ve even told you they would. Unfortunately, too many pets end up in animal shelters because their owner died...
A will is the best-known estate planning document. If you are creating an estate plan for the first time, you may wonder if you need any more than this. The answer is that it depends. While there are advantages to the simplicity of a will, there are also...