When we meet with clients for the first time, we consider it the first of many meetings throughout their lifetime. Together, we’re forging a partnership. So, in addition to getting your estate plans in place, your attorney should be someone...
If you have minor children, you must have a will or an estate plan in place. Failure to do so means your children’s custody is at the mercy of the courts if the natural parents die while children are still...
Creating an estate plan supports your vision of distributing the estate amongst heirs, beneficiaries, friends, or favorite charities and organizations from a heart-centered standpoint. From the state’s perspective, your estate plan or the probate process ensures bills and debts...
In a perfect world, everyone’s estate plans would be in order before being diagnosed with any life-altering conditions like dementia. If that hasn’t happened, a diagnosis like dementia should automatically trigger a review of any existing estate plans, or families...
Estate plans, which include a will and/or trusts, are designed so that your estate can be distributed without any assistance or guidance from the state. When you die without a will in California, the state takes over and it...
Estate planning is an essential part of any adult’s life plan. At its most basic, good estate planning ensures your finances, property, collectibles, valuables, sentimental possessions, and other assets are distributed according to your wishes. Estate plans also encompass a...
Probate is a legal process designed to efficiently and effectively distribute assets and transfer titles and properties to heirs and beneficiaries. In our Estate Planning Glossary, we explain the term probate as follows: If you don’t have a will or trust...
In the wake of a loved one’s death, there is so much to be done - especially in the first 10 to 14 days. It is overwhelming at times, and it can feel impossible to activate the “logistical” parts of...
For many, a will is as simple as leaving all of your assets to your spouse or equally divided between your surviving children. For most, however, wills are more complicated than that and require the creation of personal property memorandums. ...
Sometimes, we wish we weren’t in an industry titled, “estate planning,” because the word estate conjures images of wealthy lords of manors and acres and acres of land, with orchards of money trees. As a result, the greater population mistakenly believes that...
