Our hearts break for the families affected by the devastating Los Angeles fires. As our community comes together to support one another, we're witnessing incredible strength and resilience. While focusing on immediate recovery, these events have also reminded us of something deeply personal – the importance of protecting our loved ones through comprehensive estate planning.
As an estate planning attorney, I've found that the New Year offers the perfect opportunity to help my clients secure their family's future. Many of my clients use this time to reflect on their goals and ensure their estate plans align with their current circumstances.
With careful planning, you can create an estate plan that respects your choices and protects your loved ones, whether they're biological or chosen family.
As you pack your bags and prepare for your next adventure, there's one crucial item that often gets overlooked: your estate plan.
What happens to your accounts and files when you become incapacitated or pass away? Learn more about digital assets and estate planning.
Your Advance Health Care Directive allows you to make important health care decisions and designate an agent to carry out your wishes in the event you are incapacitated. A "Living Will" and "Power of Attorney for Health Care" are similar documents used in other states, but in California, the Advance Health Care Directive (“AHCD”) is the estate planning document that is used to let your wishes regarding medical decisions be known.
Are you in a same-sex relationship? Are you married or domestic partners? Have you and your same-sex partner talked to an estate planning attorney, or even given estate planning a second thought? If not, you need to consider doing so sooner rather than later, not only to protect your partner, but to protect yourself as well.Each state provides a default estate plan if you fail to plan your estate. This default estate plan comes in a one-size-fits-all rule for what happens to your property [...]
Once a person makes a last will or living trust, they often will put it in a safe at home or safe deposit box at the bank and forget about it. However, there are many reasons to review and update your living trust and other estate planning documents. Below is a checklist of events that may prompt you to update your estate planning documents:
Estate planning is a crucial but often overlooked aspect of financial and property management. It involves preparing for the transfer of your assets in the event of your death or incapacity. This process ensures that your wishes are honored, and your loved ones are taken care of, minimizing potential disputes and legal complications.Estate planning is not just for the wealthy; it is essential for everyone! Without a plan, your estate will be subject to California law, where the state decides how your assets are [...]
The best way to protect your home from probate is to transfer it into a Living Trust. A Living Trust allows for the easy transfer of your home and saves thousands of dollars after you pass away. But it is not enough to establish your Living Trust – you must also properly transfer your home to your Living Trust.