Families who have a child or relative with special needs often worry about what will happen when they are no longer around to provide care and support. That concern is very real, and the best way to address it is through careful planning. Without a plan, even the most well-intentioned inheritance can cause serious problems for a loved one.
For many families, the hardest part of estate planning is not the legal documents. It is the conversations that go with them. Parents often hesitate to bring up the subject with their adult children because it feels uncomfortable. From my experience, I can tell you the families who talk openly are the ones who avoid the most heartache later. The first step is to start with the reason you are planning. Your children do not need to hear every detail of your estate plan, but [...]
In recent months, I have spoken with many non-married couples who are beginning to think seriously about estate planning. Some are in long-term partnerships, others have recently moved in together, and a few have been together for decades but have chosen not to marry. Regardless of the length of the relationship, the same truth applies: without proper planning, the law will not automatically protect your partner.Unlike married couples, non-married partners do not have the same default rights when it comes to inheritance, medical decision [...]
Talking about death is not easy. However, discussing your funeral wishes in advance is one of the most considerate things you can do for your family. In Palm Springs, I often see families facing additional stress because these decisions were never addressed beforehand. Many people assume their loved ones will know what they want. The reality is that even close family members can disagree or be uncertain during difficult times. Being clear about your preferences, such as burial or cremation, the type of ceremony you [...]
For many people in Palm Springs, pets are family. But when it comes to estate planning, they’re often overlooked. A will alone may not be enough to ensure your pet is cared for if something happens to you. A pet trust is a legally enforceable tool that allows you to name a caregiver, set aside funds, and leave specific instructions for your pet’s care. Unlike a will, a pet trust becomes effective if you become incapacitated or pass away, offering immediate protection and continuity. This [...]
As an estate planning attorney in Palm Springs, I regularly speak with individuals and families who assume estate planning begins and ends with a will. In reality, a complete estate plan includes a handful of carefully selected documents, each with a distinct role. Together, they protect your assets, your wishes, and your loved ones both during your lifetime and after your passing. Here is a look at the core documents included in a well-rounded California estate plan and why each is essential. Living Trust A [...]
Most people don’t put off estate planning because they don’t care. They put it off because life is busy, the process feels overwhelming, or they think they don’t own "enough" to make it worth doing.But here’s the reality: the cost of doing nothing almost always outweighs the effort of planning ahead.In California, even modest estates can get caught in probate. A home, a savings account, a small investment portfolio... These aren’t just numbers on a page. They’re the result of hard work and a [...]
If you own real estate in California and haven’t placed it in a living trust, your property is almost certainly going through probate. Many homeowners assume a will is enough to ensure their wishes are followed. Unfortunately, in California, a will alone does not prevent your estate from entering probate court. This process can be lengthy, expensive, and public, which is often the exact outcome my clients hope to avoid. Understanding Probate in California Probate is the court-supervised process of settling a person’s estate after [...]
If you own a home or have financial assets in California, a living trust isn’t just helpful—it’s foundational to protecting what you’ve built.
The word “trust” often brings to mind images of generational wealth, sprawling estates, or complicated legal tools meant only for the ultra-rich. In reality, trusts are one of the most flexible and accessible estate planning options, especially for those with creative, personal, or non-traditional assets. If you’re an artist, designer, collector, or someone who has spent time curating a meaningful home or body of work, a trust isn’t about extravagance. It’s about protecting the intention behind what you’ve built. More Than Who Gets What: It’s [...]