Estate Planning

5 things you need to know about trusts

When people start to think about an estate plan, they may consider the will. While a will is fairly easy to establish, it behooves some individuals to set up and fund trusts. Assets held in trusts are passed down to the beneficiaries without having to go through the...

Estate planning milestones to look out for

When you look back at your past, you recall milestone events that shaped who you are today. Such events as weddings, divorces, births, deaths, new careers and retirement will continue to add to your story for the rest of your life. Besides making up your and your...

Is your estate vulnerable to taxation after you die?

Thinking about who receives which assets from your estate can be pleasant in some ways. You may reminisce about your favorite memories with different people and assign them different property based on your experiences with them and their current life circumstances....

3 ways to spot an invalid will

Usually, you want nothing more than to uphold the last wishes of a loved one who recently died. Their will or estate plan will is the foundation for their lasting legacy. What they want to leave to their loved ones is a reflection not only of their relationships but...

Basic estate planning for everyone

It’s very common for people in California to delay their estate planning. In fact, if you have a will, you’re already ahead of the game compared to most people. Some people only need a simple will while others require more complex estate plans. Does everyone need to...

Is your will valid according to state law?

A will allows you to dictate how you want the probate court to distribute your property upon your death. Having a will is very important, but it must comply with the law's requirements to be valid. If your will isn't valid, the probate court won't divide your estate...

Areas in your estate to update after divorce

There are many life changes the average person has that are worth using for updating an estate. An estate isn’t just the assets you’ve collected over life. Within an estate plan are instructions about your assets and stipulations regarding their disbursement. What...