A: Absolutely. Your estate plan gives you the opportunity to communicate to your loved ones how you would like belongings that have special meaning to you handled. Whether it be a family heirloom, a box of albums, or an important personal keepsake, your estate plan...
A: This question came in from an anonymous follower! Unfortunately, since his father never had a trust prepared, and because the gold is worth more than $166,250, the family gold will have to be probated. In order to pay all of the court, administrative, and...
A: Most of us either watched or heard about Oprah's groundbreaking interview with Prince Harry and Megan Markle on Monday. Princess Diana originally left Prince Harry and Prince William around $8.9 million to be fully accessed when they turned 30. However, because of...
A: Special Needs Trusts are designed to supplement, but not supplant, the means-based government assistance and benefits that your loved one is receiving! The language of the SNT establishes that the trust funds are to be used only for specific purposes to improve the...
A: A conservatorship is a court case wherein a judge appoints an individual or organization (the “conservator”) to care for an adult who cannot safely care for himself or herself or manage his or her own finances. For example, a conservator may be appointed for an...
A: If you get remarried and never update your estate planning documents before your death, the state of California will automatically include your new spouse in your estate plan by default. The Omitted Spouse Statutes (probate code sections 2160, 21611, and 21612)...
A: A Notice of Proposed Action essentially requires a beneficiary to “speak now or forever hold their peace.” California Probate Code sections 16500-16504 permit a trustee to give notice to the beneficiaries of a trust that the trustee intends to take (or not to take)...
The Prop 19 planning really only makes sense if both of the following are true: 1) You have a VERY low property tax bill (relative to current fair market value); and 2) You believe your children will want to hold onto the property after you're gone (rather than sell...
A: Here are some legal essentials that can help protect your growing business: Register your business: Registering your business with the state legitimizes your business for both you and your consumers, gives you the ability to apply for grants and loans, and having...
A: There are three main options for California property owners that have low property tax bases who want to leave the properties to their children. 1: Do nothing. This allows your children to inherit the property and receive a stepped-up basis as of the date of death...
