You would like to disinherit someone from your will. Perhaps you are unhappy with the choices one of your adult children has made, or maybe you simply know that they don’t need the financial support and that the money would be better used elsewhere. You want to take...
Estate Planning
What’s a pretermitted heir?
Sometimes, a testator will purposefully exclude one or more of their heirs from their estate – but what happens if they do so accidentally? Errors of omission in wills may be more common than most people realize, but the law doesn’t want to see anybody disinherited...
What does a medical Power of Attorney do?
The estate planning process largely revolves around who your assets will go to upon your death. Nonetheless, there is so much more to estate planning. You can utilize estate planning documents, such as a medical Power of Attorney, to ensure that appropriate decisions...
Are there better options than a DNR order?
When people use a DNR order, or a Do Not Resuscitate Order, they do not want life-saving measures to be used in certain circumstances. If their heart stops beating or they stop breathing, they don’t want the medical team to use CPR to bring them back. Often, people...
3 essential components of an incapacity plan
Planning for unforeseen circumstances is not just prudent; it’s essential. Of course, nobody likes to dwell on the possibility of becoming incapacitated. But, having a plan in place can provide you with peace of mind and help to ensure that your wishes are carried out...
4 reasons you may want to disinherit someone
One of the hardest choices a testator may have to make during estate planning is disinheriting a close family member. However, the law provides for individuals to have control over the distribution of their assets after death. While disinheriting a family member is a...
2 reasons why people might procrastinate estate planning
While estate planning is such a crucial topic of financial management, it often takes a back seat in people’s priorities. There are several reasons why people may procrastinate writing a will, assigning powers of attorney or choosing healthcare proxies. Exploring...
Why the next-of-kin law doesn’t replace health care planning
This year, California enacted what’s known as a “next-of-kin” law. It allows hospitals and other medical facilities to designate a person (known as a surrogate) with whom they can discuss a patient’s condition if that patient can’t speak for themselves. That...
You should never use a DIY estate planning website
Attempting to save a little money and handle your estate planning on your own may seem like a good idea, but it is not a wise move. There’s much more to estate planning than DIY websites allow for, and you could make serious mistakes that will leave your family with a...
Should I include a letter of intent in my estate plan?
Estate planning is a crucial aspect of financial management, and it involves making important decisions about how your assets will be managed and distributed in the event of your passing. Letters of intent are an often overlooked but valuable component of estate...