The creation of an estate plan is important because it allows you to decide several things, including who you wish to receive your assets when you pass away. However, sometimes those whom you plan to leave property to may pass away before you. When this occurs, what does that mean for...

It may be difficult to imagine our lives without our dogs, cats, and other pets. But, what about their lives without you? While it’s unpleasant to think about, sometimes our pets outlive us. When this occurs, it’s important to know that they will be well cared for. Luckily, there are steps that...

When someone (the Grantor) is no longer competent to manage a trust, a disability panel has the right to remove the Grantor as trustee. The disability panel makes a determination of whether the Grantor as Trustee has capacity. 

For joint Trusts, each Grantor will set his or her own...

Despite the importance, there is still much confusion surrounding estate planning and specifically trusts. Here are some common myths about your California trust and how you can establish one for yourself. 

1. MYTH: Living trusts are too expensive and you can’t afford one.

You may...

When you make the difficult decision to divorce, there are many different things to consider. Not only will divorce obviously change your relationship status, but it can also impact your children if you have any. It can also have an effect on your home, your assets, trusts, retirement plans, and estate...

When someone (called the settlor) establishes a trust, most of the time they will also work hard to find the right person to serve as the trustee. When deciding upon who is to be assigned as trustee, someone’s legal knowledge, financial experience, and trustworthiness are generally all taken into account. 

When you leave assets to your children in a Trust there are essentially two different ways in which they can receive them: outright or in trust. When they receive assets outright it means that the assets will be distributed to them now. When they receive the assets in Trust, it means...

When someone passes away and leaves assets to be distributed, such as real estate, bank accounts, and other financial investments, their estate goes through a process called probate. An estate goes through this process whether or no they have will. During probate the court will name an executor (if there is a...

As the focus continues to be on climate change, the environmental issues that plague our world have captured our attention. Many people are now looking at ways in which they can be more environmentally friendly – even after they pass away. 

Green burials, often referred to as natural burials...

When you’re establishing your estate plan, it can be difficult to think about the possibility of incapacitation. We never want to think about our loved ones as anything other than happy and healthy. However, while we pray that it will never be relevant, it can be extremely helpful to ensure that they...