California’s probate courts are very clear about who inherits what when an individual dies (the “decedent”) without a will, trust, or estate plan in place. The decedent's assets (properties, cars, possessions, businesses, and even digital property) are distributed to his/her...

Estate planning can be a challenging experience because it requires thinking in the long-term and about one’s own vulnerability. Add the abundance of legal terms that accompany any foray into the land of estate planning and we understand why the process can...

Creating a charitable trust is more than a worthy way to support your favorite non-profit organization, it can also provide significant tax breaks for yourself and your estate. They are win-win for your estate, and can still result in the ability...

Thinking about estate planning is often as far as many people get until an unplanned or traumatic situation occurs, at which point it’s challenging to assemble a mindful, organized, and sensible estate plan. Our recurring mantra is that it’s never...

There is no blog that can teach you everything you need to know to understand taxes and trust distribution. Whether you are in the process of setting up a trust, or you are a recent beneficiary of a trust or...

Singles are the least likely to seek support from an estate planning attorney, and yet estate planning for singles may be even more important than for couples. In the case of married couples, the spouse automatically becomes the medical advocate,...

As Bay Area estate planners, we have been working non-stop, supporting our clients and their families through the COVID-19 epidemic. Much of that work has been helping those who are incapacitated in some way and need to put their plans...

Choose the Best Trustee to Handle Your Estate As estate attorneys, we cannot emphasize enough how important it is to name the proper administrator to handle your will and/or trust. The administrator of your will is called an executor, while the administrator of a trust is...

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...