Digital Estate Planning in California

Posted on October 29, 2021

There’s no doubt that we do more and more online each and every day. So while we tend to think of our physical assets when establishing our estate plans, it’s equally important to consider your digital life. In other words, your estate plan should take into consideration what you would like to happen...

What Happens if a Trustee Refuses to Give a Beneficiary Money?

Posted on September 23, 2021

When someone sets up a trust, they appoint at least one trustee. The trustee is responsible for managing the assets of the trust for the benefit of the trust’s beneficiaries. Under California law, trustees are legally required to follow the instructions of the trust when distributing money and other assets. In determining who should...

What Exactly Does “Personal Property” Mean?

Posted on August 30, 2021

While some think that personal property encompasses all property aside from real property, that’s not always true. In California the court will look at the specific language within a document and at times other evidence in order to determine the testator’s intent – exactly what property they intended to gift. The best thing that you...

What to Know About Probate Homes in California

Posted on July 15, 2021

The purpose of estate administration is to ensure that one’s real and personal property is properly distributed after they have passed away. This process to administer the estate is known as probate and is overseen by a probate court. So who administers the estate? An estate representative is responsible and may be named...

What Is a California Spousal Property Petition?

Posted on June 22, 2021

When someone dies, their will must pass the legal process called probate. While probate can be helpful in ensuring that the will is verified and properly carried out, it doesn’t always account for what is supposed to happen to certain property, namely, surviving spouses. According to California law, property may pass to a surviving...

New Parents Should Consider a Trust

Posted on May 27, 2021

Learning that you are expecting a child whether through childbirth, adoption, or surrogacy, can be extremely exciting but overwhelming. There are so many decisions to make before your child’s arrival. But while you may be thinking about names, birth plans, and nursery color schemes, you may also want to give significant thought to updating...

6 Tips for Naming Your Trust

Posted on April 26, 2021

It may not seem like a very big decision, but what you choose to name your trust can be extremely important. Trusts differ from other legal entities in that there are no laws that govern what you must name them. In other words, the creator of a trust has free reign to name...

3 Reasons to Consider Updating Your Estate Plan

Posted on March 16, 2021

While most of us know the importance of establishing a comprehensive estate plan, many of us don’t know the importance of updating it. Updating your estate plan is important for many reasons. If your estate plan doesn’t accurately reflect your current life circumstances or the current laws, it can cause many issues for...

Statutes of Limitations in Your Trust Lawsuit

Posted on February 12, 2021

If you wish to file a lawsuit regarding your inheritance under a will or trust, California requires that you follow specific deadlines known as “statutes of limitation.” These are laws that set a time limit on the time by which you must bring a specific type of legal action or else you automatically...

5 Reasons for Estate Planning

Posted on January 18, 2021

Estate planning is important because it helps you to prepare for whom or where you want your assets to go when you pass away. Alternatively, when you fail to execute an estate plan, the state in which you live prior to your death makes this important decision for you. However, there are other...