In California, anyone who owns a home or other substantial assets may benefit from executing a living trust.  From tax advantages to avoiding unnecessary court proceedings to providing a safety net during your lifetime to addressing specific needs in your family, a living trust might be the right estate planning paper for you. A California […]

If a friend or loved one dies with only a will, or with no estate plan at all, you may be required to file a probate petition before you can take control or possession of that person’s assets. Failing to do so, and taking or distributing the assets without the proper procedures, may lead to penalties […]

When planning for a person with special needs, you have more than one option. In some situations, a special needs trust might be a good choice, but in some other circumstances, you might have a better option. Special needs trusts are sophisticated legal documents that must comply with multiple rules. If you make a mistake, […]

One of the frustrating aspects of handling a close relative’s estate after they die is trying to find all of the essential financial and legal documents. You might find the deceased person’s will, but it might be quite old, making you wonder if it was revoked and replaced by a later will or trust. Sometimes, […]

Palliative care is often referred to as pain management or comfort care and is an option that many people choose as part of their end-of-life care plan.  Hospice and palliative care are similar, but not the same.  Hospice care is typically provided at or near the end of a patient’s life.  However, a patient may […]

Small business owners must often incorporate their estate plan with a business succession plan. Having an estate plan ensures that your wishes for your business are carried out after your death. Whether you want to pass the business to another person or liquidate the business, our California estate planning attorney can help you identify your […]

Under California law, domestic partners have all of the same rights as a married couple.  However, if you and your partner are not married, and not registered as domestic partners, you will need to be especially careful that your estate plan is in place to carry out your wishes when you die, or if you […]

For many of us, it may be even more difficult to think about the loss of a spouse or partner than it is to face our own mortality.  However, you still need to do estate planning for surviving your spouse or partner, because one of you will most likely predecease the other. If you are […]

Con artists love to go after seniors to try to trick them out of their hard-earned money. Sometimes the scammers are total strangers from somewhere else in the world, and sometimes the thieves are close to home. Relatives, neighbors, caregivers, and trusted people like spiritual advisors may dupe older Americans out of the money they […]