What Is a Durable Power of Attorney? The main focus of any estate plan is ensuring assets are divided according to the principal's instructions after s/he dies. However, life doesn't always unfold that simply. A durable power of attorney is...

Living trusts are wise options for almost anyone with assets of at least $166,250 that will be distributed to heirs and beneficiaries upon their death. Many people assume that anything with the word “trust” in the title is exclusively for the wealthy. That is not the...

When a person dies, their entire estate (properties, assets, possessions, debts, etc.) are administered to their heirs and beneficiaries. This process, which we refer to as administering the decedent’s estate, goes through something called the probate process. Typically, the probate...

Asking the right questions before hiring an estate planning attorney ensures you find a qualified legal expert whom you can trust, and with whom you feel comfortable discussing some of the most sensitive and emotional topics in life – your...

There are several steps you can take when protecting your children’s inheritance from divorce, whether you are in the beginning stages of a separation or divorce proceedings or preparing to remarry or form a domestic partnership when one/both of you have children...

Does your current estate plan account for the digital assets you have acquired over the past five to ten years? As the world increasingly moves off paper pages and out of brick-and-mortar buildings, it moves increasingly into the digital realm...

Creating your estate plan is a big undertaking, and you should be proud of yourself for your efforts. However, estate planning doesn’t stop there. The essential components of your estate – will, trust, bequeaths, etc. – were all based on...

In a perfect world, everyone with any assets or inheritable possessions would have some type of will or trust put into place, and update it regularly. By doing so, it notably streamlines the inheritance process and the distribution of assets...

Overview of What Happens In California if You Die Without a Will In the legal world, dying without a will means dying “intestate.” From that point on, the estate becomes a pawn in a legal version of a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure book,...

While we fully support online resources for boilerplate, legal planning such as Advanced Medical Directives, DIY estate planning is not a good idea. In addition to missing key legal loopholes or fine print issues, you could cost yourself – and...