Special needs trusts allow you the option of providing loved ones with additional funds without causing them to lose their benefits from the government. This can help them pay for the increasing cost of living in California, without making them worry about losing...
Choosing an attorney-in-fact in California can impact the experience that you have in the last months or years of your life, and it can have an impact on the experiences of your children and other family members. If you're unsure of how to undergo the process, there...
All California residents should plan for their futures. Estate planning is one of the best ways to do that. Documents that address the possibility of incapacity should be included in your estate plan. Explaining incapacity planning Although many people are living...
Talking to your kids about your estate plan may be an effective way to ensure that your affairs are settled in a timely manner. It can also help to reduce the chances of family infighting, legal challenges to your California will or other negative events taking place....
While estate planning provides security and peace of mind for everyone, parents receive additional benefits. When parents in California carefully plan their estate, they are able to secure futures for both minor and adult children. Few parents want to consider the...
Setting up a trust allows you to pass on assets to your beneficiaries without going through probate. To meet different needs, there are various types of trusts. 1. Special needs A special needs trust is for children, including adult children, who have special needs....
If you are making an estate plan, you may want to include a living will that outlines your wishes for end-of-life care. It can be important to have this document if you become incapacitated and cannot say what treatment you would prefer. The living will can also guide...
As most California lawyers and estate planning attorneys would likely state, estate plans are necessary to protect not only your assets and the things you have worked for, but also your goals. While there are many ways for an individual to achieve their estate planning goals, an organized and meticulous approach should guide the process. In doing so, the potential…
A common issue that comes up in trust administration matters is whether a successor trustee will be paid for serving as the successor trustee, and if so, how much? As with most trust administration issues, the answer lies in the trust document itself. Most trusts contain language which specifically authorizes payment to a successor trustee for performing services as trustee.…
As discussed in our blog on Heggstad petitions, revocable living trusts may be funded from property that is not identified by deed or otherwise titled as assets of the trust by filing a petition with the Probate Court, which seeks an order declaring that the unidentified property shall be assets of the trust. With the court order in hand, the…