A: You sure can, but it's not advisable! The worst part of a DIY trust is that by the time problems start sprouting up, there is nothing that can be done to fix them (because they typically aren't discovered until AFTER you're gone). Creating a trust on your own my...
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: Yes! This is a particularly common scenario when it comes to estate planning attorneys retiring. Many attorneys already have systems and processes in place for this exact situation. A client always has the right to switch attorneys at any time, even if their...
A: You are not legally required to hire an attorney to file for probate and administer an estate, but the probate process can be difficult to navigate without legal advice. There are numerous tasks to complete, notices to provide, court filings, and deadlines. You...
A: The two major types of decisions you will make in your estate are: 1) Who will you nominate to act as fiduciaries in your estate planning documents, and 2) How your assets will be distributed after you pass away You can begin by thinking about whether you have...
A: Yes, trustees in California are entitled to receive reasonable compensation for the work performed to administer the trust. The amount of compensation is typically determined to be 1% of the value of the trust estate annually, or charged hourly at a reasonable...
A: Yes, you must at least make a diligent effort to do so. For example, we send the following message to all of our Successor Trustee clients: "As part of the Trustee’s duty to collect and preserve as many assets as possible on behalf of the Trust, we always recommend...
A: If you want to report elder abuse or dependent adult abuse, you contact your local county APS (Adult Protective Services) Office. For most types of abuse, County APS programs have 10 days to respond to your report. Abuse reports may also be made to your local law...
A: Yes, all properties in California are subject to Prop 13! Prop 13 provides 3 very important functions in property tax assessments in California: 1. All real property must have an established base year value 2. All real property has a restricted rate of increase on...
A: There are several reasons a trust may be attacked or challenged as invalid, including: 1: Mental Incompetence: The grantor lacked the requisite mental capacity 2: Undue Influence: External pressure affected the grantor’s decisions 3: Forgery: The trust document is...
