Your estate plan is meant to persist after you die and give instructions to others about your final legacy. It will provide information about who will serve as the guardian of any children you have and offer instructions about how to distribute your property after you...
Year: 2021
How old is too old to update or make a California estate plan?
If your parent is getting older and they don't have an estate plan, you might want to talk to them about that. Especially if you only have one living parent or if your parents have divorced, having an estate plan in place is very important for your family. Encouraging...
California estate planning: Yes, there is a trust for that
One of the most powerful tools you can include in your estate planning arsenal is a well-drafted trust. With this document, you can enjoy flexibility when leaving assets to your heirs. You can also add more than one trust to your estate plan, allowing you to address...
Selling the home may be one of your biggest jobs as an executor
If you’ve been chosen as the executor of a family member’s or friend’s estate, you may be somewhat relieved that they designated their home to be sold rather than leaving it to one (or more) of their heirs. This can prevent a lot of complications and conflicts. Often,...
4 things to consider when drafting an advance health care directive
Putting your estate plans in order is a gift for your loved ones. Your clear direction can help them resolve any lingering doubts about what you might want in your final hours or how you want your assets and personal belongings divided. An advance health care...
How an estate plan helps after a serious health diagnosis
If you’ve just been given a serious diagnosis, such as late-stage cancer, your first thought is likely about what treatment options you have. At the same time, though, you also want to think about what else you need to do in case that treatment does not work or...
How powers of attorney protect you in an emergency
Most of your estate plan will focus on what happens to your property after your death. However, a thorough estate plan should also protect you in the event of a medical emergency. A workplace fall, a seizure or a cardiac event could leave you in a coma and unable to...
Conservation easements and estate planning
Californians who own land that they want to protect from development after they’re gone can purchase a conservation easement. An easement offers protection in perpetuity for land from any use that the owner believes would conflict with their goals for it or compromise...
What can you do to minimize the chances of someone contesting your will?
There are many reasons why individuals sit down to do estate planning. One big factor that motivates them is choosing what happens with their assets instead of allowing the intestate succession rules to apply instead. What happens, however, if someone contests your...
Don’t believe all you hear about advance health care directives
Formalizing an advance health care directive is a powerful part of estate planning. It can ensure that your medical providers adhere to your health care wishes, even if you cannot communicate those wishes orally. When written well, an advance health care directive...