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 […]

After working hard and saving for a lifetime, you will want to leave an inheritance to your loved ones without having to worry about some third party taking that money.  Unfortunately, many people see a sizable inheritance as a reason to try to take what they can get from your heirs. Receiving the bounty of […]

Changes in probate and estate laws can have a significant impact on your estate plans. However, changes in tax laws can also positively or negatively impact your estate. Therefore, we strongly recommend periodically discussing your estate plan with our California estate planning attorney, especially after changes in tax laws such as California’s Proposition 19. Before […]

The debts of a deceased person can wipe out the inheritance a beneficiary might have expected to receive. California has its own rules about the notification of creditors and payment of creditor claims when administering an estate. If you are trying to handle the estate of a close friend or relative, you probably have many […]

Having a complete and comprehensive estate plan is the most effective thing you can do to protect your family as a whole, and ultimately your legacy. But estate planning in California is known for being incredibly complicated and confusing if you aren’t a California estate planning attorney. The first step to making it less intimidating […]

A charitable trust can provide advantages for you, your heirs and beneficiaries, and to one or more charitable organizations that you name in the trust. You have options about which kind of trust you want to create, depending on your objectives. Charitable trusts can come with tax incentives and other financial benefits. A California elder […]

California does not impose a state inheritance or estate tax, no matter how massive your net worth is. However, your estate may still have to pay a federal estate tax, and your heirs might be subject to an inheritance tax if they live in a different state that levies an inheritance tax on its residents. […]

California law does not place limits on how often you can change your will and trust instruments. For most people, the opposite problem arises. They may know that they need to update their estate planning documents regularly, but instead, put it off.  Or they may not realize that they need to review and update their […]

Traditional estate planning is changing. Instead of merely focusing on tangible property, such as real estate, vehicles and personal property, an estate plan may also include digital assets. Digital assets can have significant value and may be managed solely online. However, because virtual assets can be overlooked, they can be lost. Talk with a California […]