In family law, California is a “community property estate,” meaning nearly all assets acquired during a marriage are split equally between spouses in a divorce. The same is true in death; California estate law includes “forced share” or “equitable distribution”...
Legal adoptions provide adopted children the same rights as their adoptive parent’s biological children. This same tenet continues through in intestate succession. So, if a parent dies without a will or surviving spouse, the estate is divided equally between the...
Undue influence occurs when someone in a position of power or authority coerces or pressures another individual to make or change a will. This is one of the reasons why DIY estate plans are not the way to go; estate...
It is excruciating to imagine anything traumatic happening to parents with minor children in their care - most especially their death. So understandably, parents tend to behave like ostriches - proverbial heads in the sand - avoiding the most sensitive...
One of the most empowering things about creating this in an estate plan is the ability to thoughtfully distribute your assets in a way that honors your values and what you determine to be best for the whole when you...
Most people work hard to create an estate plan that is as fair as possible, working to avoid any apparent signs of favoritism. However, there are inevitable situations where a child or other heir feels favoritism at work. If sibling...
Parents and primary caregivers of children with special needs have a life-altering role. The safety, security, and long-term care or treatments required to provide their child with the best quality of life don’t end at the standard ages of 18,...
The term “intestate succession” is used by legal professionals and court systems to describe the process of distributing a person’s assets if they die without a will or trust in place. This process takes place in probate courts and can...
We understand the desire to save money with DIY estate planning, but it is never a good idea. There are three main reasons people create estate plans: to distribute assets to the people and organizations they love most, to protect...
Business owners must make the same “what if…” plans as individuals. For example, what happens to your business if you die? What if you become incapacitated and cannot make essential day-to-day, legal, or financial decisions? How do you want your...
