Estate Planning

A will is a part of estate planning, but it is not designed to control every decision about your property or personal wishes. Some instructions may be handled through other estate planning documents or beneficiary arrangements. Understanding what may not belong in a...

An effective estate plan should create an organized record of your property, explain how each asset is owned and identify where essential documents can be found. In California, the way an asset is titled determines how it will transfer after death. Some property may...

The probate process can be a long and costly one for those administering estates with extensive or complex property. That’s a key reason that California residents take advantage of estate planning strategies like revocable living trusts, gifting assets while they’re...

Adults who create an estate plan may think that the work is over once they have their documents together. One thing they may forget about is telling their beneficiaries about the existence of this plan. If you have your estate plan written out and haven’t discussed it...

For people drafting or updating their wills, preserving resources is often a top priority. They want to provide clear instructions so that people they select receive their most valuable assets after they die. Many people prioritize naming beneficiaries for their homes...

It is easy to associate wills, beneficiaries and inheritance decisions with retirement or old age. However, there is no specific age at which a person suddenly needs an estate plan. The best time to start is usually when there are people, property or financial...

Creating an estate plan provides a way to put important decisions in writing, from who should receive certain property to who can manage financial or health care matters when necessary. However, five or ten years later, those same instructions may no longer accurately...

There are many medical decisions that are deeply personal matters. Some people have religious or moral beliefs that prevent them from taking certain medications or even receiving blood transfusions, for example. Others want their personal misfortune to benefit others,...

Having several grandchildren can be a wonderful blessing, but it can also make estate planning more complex than it might otherwise be. As families grow, it becomes increasingly important to create a plan that clearly reflects your wishes and provides for future...

Many married couples assume that they should have a single will that covers both spouses. However, the vast majority of the time, each person should have their own individual will. Although spouses often have similar estate planning goals, a will is a personal legal...