Category: Wills & Trusts

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...

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 trusts

However, 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...

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,...

California elder law attorneys are frequently asked, “Should I give gifts during my life or leave them in my will”? The answer, “It depends.”

If you have a modest estate and are relying on the bulk of it to live, gifting assets during your life might not be a good idea. Even if you...

A revocable living trust could be a better option for you than a will or an irrevocable living trust. Each of these estate planning documents has advantages and disadvantages. If you are thinking about creating or updating your estate plan, a California wills and trusts attorney can help you evaluate the reasons why...

Although this situation could change at any time, California law does not currently (as of April 15, 2020), allow remote online notarization (RON) of documents. More than 20 other states allow RON, but California has not passed previously proposed attempts to allow RON. A California estate-planning attorney can answer your questions about the...

A detailed estate plan can provide asset protection now and in the future. It can also protect your family and ensure that the legacy you build is available for the next generation and generations to come. California wills and trusts attorneys assist individuals in preparing comprehensive estate plans that meet a variety of...

There are some strange things that people include in their will. If you wanted to, you could leave a jar full of dirt to your niece. If you do, you might want to include a note that the dirt was collected when you went on a special trip together. Otherwise, someone might contest your...

There are several things that every will should include, such as the name of your personal representative, guardian for minor children, names of heirs, and directions for dividing assets among heirs. However, several items should not appear in a will. If you have questions about what should and should not be included in your...

Have you taken steps to lower the taxable value of your probate estate? Are you working with a California estate planning attorney to ensure that your heirs will not incur substantial taxes or debts when they inherit your assets after death? If so, you may want to discuss an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust...