Estate Planning Blog | The Law Offices of Eric A. Rudolph P.C.

Crafting Inclusive Estate Plans for LGBTQ Families

As an estate planning attorney in Palm Springs, I've witnessed firsthand the unique challenges LGBTQ individuals and couples face when planning for their future, especially those with blended families. California's default probate laws may not align with your wishes, potentially causing unintended consequences and family disputes. However, 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.

September 23rd, 2024|Uncategorized|

Ensuring Your Estate Plan is Travel-Ready

As you pack your bags and prepare for your next adventure, there's one crucial item that often gets overlooked: your estate plan. While it may not be as exciting as planning your itinerary or shopping for new travel gear, reviewing and updating your estate plan before you embark on your journey is just as important as remembering your passport.

September 18th, 2024|Uncategorized|

Digital Assets and Estate Planning

Many of us are conducting business on the Internet, including online banking, shopping on Amazon, uploading files to the "cloud," posting videos on YouTube, or communicating on Facebook or Instagram. What happens to your accounts and files when you become incapacitated or pass away? Will your family have access to them? Where will they find your usernames and passwords? Who can take down your Facebook and Instagram pages, or would you prefer that they continue for posterity? And if you've saved photos, videos and other [...]

September 11th, 2024|Uncategorized|

Your Advance Health Care Directive

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.

August 25th, 2024|Estate Administration, Estate Planning|

Estate Planning for Same Sex Couples

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 [...]

August 16th, 2024|Estate Planning, LGBTQ Estate Planning|

Reasons to Update your Will or Trust

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:

August 8th, 2024|Estate Planning|

Understanding Estate Planning

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 [...]

July 23rd, 2024|Estate Planning|

Protect Your Home With a Living Trust

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.

July 9th, 2024|Estate Planning|

Living Trust v. Transfer of Death (TOD) Beneficiary Designation

If you have a living trust, you may also have bank accounts or investment accounts titled in the name of your living trust. In that case, the financial account titled in the trust does not need a transfer-on-death (TOD) beneficiary designation and that account will always pass through your trust and be distributed to the beneficiaries under your trust.

July 2nd, 2024|Estate Planning|

Estate Planning for Domestic Partners

Are you in an unmarried same-sex domestic partnership? Have you and your partner created a will, consulted an estate planning attorney, or even considered estate planning? If not, it’s crucial to start sooner rather than later. Proper planning protects both you and your partner.

June 21st, 2024|Estate Planning, LGBTQ Estate Planning|