Estate Planning

You may find that estate planning is not quite as common as you may have assumed. It makes sense that everyone would want to write an estate plan eventually, but studies tend to find that only about a third of Americans have actually done so. Most people do not have...

As your parents are getting older, you may realize that it is time to have some important conversations about estate planning. Specifically, you may be wondering if they need to use a medical power of attorney or a financial power of attorney. Both of these documents...

Some people who have smaller estates with fewer assets attempt to use a simple will to address their estate. They may not have enough property and resources to need a trust to dispense their worldly goods. But situations can crop up where a will falls short of the...

Creating a plan for your property and your wishes brings clarity for you and your loved ones. A thoughtful plan can spare your family confusion and delay during a difficult time. It also helps you protect children and dependents long before any emergency. Getting...

There is perhaps no more personal decision than the type of care you wish to receive as your life dwindles down. Some folks want to pull out all the stops — full code, artificial respiration, feeding tube, etc. — while others prefer only palliative care and go DNR....

Estate planning sees to it that the assets in your will are distributed and managed according to your wishes while also protecting your family from unnecessary stress. Many people delay this process, but planning ahead provides clarity and peace of mind. Whether you...

Movies have left many people with the impression that beneficiaries receive their inheritance as soon as the will is read. However, that is rarely the case because, when someone dies, their estate typically has to first go through probate. What is probate, how long...

If you have already made an estate plan, then set a reminder for every couple of years to review it. Making sure your estate plan reflects your current reality leaves you and others better prepared if something were to happen to you, such as a serious accident or the...

Wills must meet various legal standards to be enforceable in California. They need to include appropriate testamentary language. They also require the signature of the testator, although an agent can sign on an individual's behalf in cases where medical issues may...

When you add a power of attorney to your estate plan, you can make it unique by determining exactly what powers you’re turning over to your agent. Maybe you want them to be able to make medical decisions, or perhaps you want to give them the ability to access your...