Recent News

Young adults have their whole lives ahead of them, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't begin estate planning as soon as possible. When someone turns 18, they legally become an adult. Overnight, parents lose the legal authority they previously had over their children's lives. As much as this is ...

When estimating the possible cost of probate, it's important to consider court fees, attorney and executor fees, costs for required services by additional professionals (fees to publish notice, fees for accountants, appraisers, etc.), as well as the cost of bond which is generally required of the...

While certain types of trusts can protect assets from creditors, they don't all have this feature. This is why it's important to consider your estate planning options beyond a revocable living trust if you wish to safeguard assets for your loved ones. Revocable vs. Irrevocable Trusts There are ma...

If you are buying a home and are wondering what the role of title insurance is, this article is for you. Title insurance policies protect buyers, real estate owners or lenders against any loss or damage they might experience because of liens, encumbrances, or defects that show up in the chain of ...

If you are creating a living trust, the person you select as your trustee matters a great deal. Trustees in California are tasked with many responsibilities and legal duties pertaining to the management and distribution of trust property. The decisions made by your trustee can affect you during y...

When working with Trustees who sell trust real property, we often witness pressure by the trust beneficiaries on the Trustees to distribute all of the net sales proceeds as soon as escrow closes. It is often forgotten that, about six months after the sale, the Trustees will receive a bill from th...

In estate planning, it is a very common question to ask: “When I buy a house, how should I take title?” There is a common misconception that realtors/escrow are required to give your legal advice – the opposite is true: they are prohibited from giving legal advice, and it falls on you as the buye...

An Advance Health Care Directive, also called an Advance Directive, is an estate planning document that allows you to name another individual – your Health Care Agent – to make medical decisions for you, and allows you to document your medical care preferences in the event you are incapacitated, ...

Even if you have a trust, it's a good idea to have a will to back it up. Estate planning is all about having a plan not just to direct what happens to you and your estate, but to account for what happens if things don't go as expected or were left unaddressed. One such critical step is funding th...

If you need an estate planning lawyer, you must find the right one for you. If you're wondering what that means, think about how personal your estate plan is to you. It protects you just as much as your loved ones, so finding the right estate planning attorney that can address your specific needs...

Estate planning is one of the most important things that not enough people do. A survey conducted by Caring.com in 2017 found that nearly 60% of American adults said that they don't have a will or a trust. While these numbers may have elevated slightly due to the COVID-19 pandemic – which exposed...

Most people would agree that estate planning is something they believe is important, but even some of those with that opinion don't have their own affairs in order. Despite all of the benefits estate planning can provide – chief among them: peace of mind! – not everyone who knows and understands ...

If estate planning is on your mind, you have likely heard of the probate process and you know it is something that is best avoided. With a carefully-crafted estate plan, it is possible to help your beneficiaries avoid this complex, expensive, and time-consuming process. Avoiding the Probate Proce...

If you're like most people, you might have put your estate plan together and thought you wouldn't have to look at it again. If it shocks you to hear that you are wrong, we're glad – only because updating your estate plan is one of the most important things you can do to ensure your family remains...

Like any organization, a business needs its leader. If a business is a ship, a business leader turns the wheel to steer it where it needs to go. When a business owner or CEO unexpectedly dies, however, it is like a ship's wheel losing its connection to the rudder: overnight, or even in an instant...

Now more than ever, same-sex couples have the same rights as heterosexual couples, and this includes when it comes to estate planning. Just like everyone else, same-sex couples should have their affairs in order to protect the ones they love after they're gone. Here are three considerations same-...

Wedding season is here! While it's important to check off items such as a venue, the guest list, and the photographer, another item couples should check off is setting up an estate plan. Even though many believe an estate plan is only needed after you get married or if you are older, that's no...

Summertime is drawing near and as the world begins opening up again many people are planning summer vacations. Whether you travel to a neighboring town, state, and especially out of the country, it's always important to make sure your estate plan is in order. Review Your Estate Plan If you don't ...

Creating an estate plan doesn't need to be complicated. When considering what needs to be in your estate plan, you'll want to make sure you have important documents that explicitly state your wishes. Having an experienced lawyer can make this process much easier. If you are ready to make an estat...

Many of you have reached out with questions about the newly passed Proposition 19. This article attempts to shed some light but does not in any way purport to offer any conclusive authority, as the CA Assessor's Association and the CA Board of Equalization are currently hard at work to formulate ...

In times like these, we must learn from those who have endured severe hardship, and have been able to come out stronger and wiser. We can take strength from their ability to overcome adversity. One such prominent American is James Bond Stockdale, a United States Navy vice admiral and aviator awar...

The Age of COVID Estate Plans – Cheap Trusts are in fact Very Expensive Estate planning services are highly sought after in this “Age of COVID.” Unfortunately, the higher cost of a custom-drafted, sophisticated and thorough estate plan containing all the essential legal documents, as well as guid...

With the current COVID 19 pandemic reshaping the way we live, a major concern for our clients is to revise their existing Health Care Directives and HIPAA documents to include provisions that address remote authorization of medical decisions. With the contagious nature of Coronavirus, it will be...

While law offices may not be classified as an “essential business” that remains open for in-person meetings, having a Health Care Directive, and attending to your Will, Living Trust and Power of Attorney, are quite essential during these trying times. From our Home Office to the safety of your Ho...