Smoothly Transferring Estate Assets in California
What Happens if I Fail to Fund My Trust?
Revocable trusts have become an increasingly popular probate-avoidance tool among California residents. Under the umbrella of a revocable trust, assets are protected from passing through a lengthy and costly probate process. However, this only holds for assets retitled in the name of the trust.
An experienced California estate planning attorney can easily...
Is a Revocable Transfer on Death Deed Valid in California?
California has historically provided four options for the transfer of real property upon a property owner’s death:
joint tenancy agreements community property with right of survivorship wills living trustsHowever, in January 2016, the California Legislature passed Assembly Bill 139, allowing a fifth option for the non-probate transfer of property to a designated beneficiary, known as the...
How Does a Will Compare to a Trust?
A will and a trust are both ways to protect your heirs and make sure that the people you want to inherit from you do so, but there are quite a few differences between wills and trusts. If you do not have either a valid will or trust when you die, you are intestate,...
What Are Special Powers of Attorney?
Special powers of attorney grant the agent limited authority to person a specific task or category of actions. The agent is the person the power of attorney names to take action on behalf of the principal. The principal is the person who makes and signs the power of attorney. Another term for special power...
How Is My VA Pension Counted for Medi-Cal Purposes?
In most cases, a VA pension is counted as income when California determines eligibility for non-MAGI Medi-Cal programs, which evaluate both income and assets instead of relying on Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). These programs commonly apply to older adults and people with disabilities.
VA service-connected disability compensation is...
How to Prevent Elder Abuse
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that elder abuse is a significant problem in the United States, but there are things we can do to prevent it. If you suspect that an older loved one might be the victim of elder abuse, you should not look the other way. Most...
How to Choose a Legal Guardian For Your Child in California
Choosing a legal guardian for your child is one of the most important decisions you must make during estate planning. It is not a decision your California estate planning lawyer can make for you. It is a decision that you must make based on the needs of your child and your preference for...
10 Life Planning Documents for End of Life Issues
It can give you peace of mind to know that you have taken steps to prepare for the issues people can face at the end of their lives. Rather than banking on a “hope and a prayer,” you can orchestrate the things that will help you be physically comfortable and provide for your loved...
How to Help Your Elderly Loved One Qualify for Medi-Cal
Qualifying an aging parent for Medi-Cal often requires strategic planning to preserve assets while meeting strict financial eligibility requirements. Families can use tools such as allowable asset transfers, exempt resources, and Medi-Cal-compliant trusts to help an older loved one qualify without spending down everything they worked for. Early planning matters because Medi-Cal...