Many people create wills to help instruct how their assets are distributed after their passing. While wills are the most basic legal document in an estate plan, it doesn’t always provide what people need. Furthermore, testators may find issues with wills, such as the...
Year: 2023
Should you disinherit someone by leaving them out of the will?
You can only disinherit someone who would’ve expected to be in your estate plan in the first place. You can add other people in – like a coworker or a family friend – but leaving them out isn’t disinheriting them. They never should have assumed they would get anything...
The two key types of Power of Attorney (POA) designations
Estate planning is most commonly associated with the distribution of assets upon a person’s death. While this is a fundamental aspect of the process, there are also other elements that comprise a basic estate plan. A Power of Attorney (POA) is a designation that...
When can your California will be contested in court?
When you are no longer around to support them, one of the most important subjects that your dependents will grapple with is who will inherit your assets. If you have a will in place at the time of your passing, the probate court will rely on this to distribute the...
How to prepare your heirs for their inheritance
Estate planning allows you to protect your loved ones when you die. They can inherit your assets, allowing them to have a comfortable standard of living while preserving your legacy. Unfortunately, this may not happen. Research shows that a significant percentage of...
3 ways you can prevent your estate from going through probate
As you grow older and start to think about your future, it’s essential to consider what will happen to your estate. Unfortunately, many people don’t realize their estate may be subject to probate court. The probate process can be lengthy, expensive and stressful for...
What are some of the benefits of using a trust?
When you’re leaving assets to an heir, you don’t have to list those assets in your will. You don’t even have to give them to your heir immediately upon your own passing. An alternative may be to put those assets into a trust, instead. The exact benefits that you see...
Debunking 4 common estate planning myths
The internet seems to have the answers for everything. But, over the last few years, there’s been a lot of misinformation running ramped on the web. Because of that, if you’re looking to make an estate plan, you may be led down the wrong path. Here are a few myths...
How do advanced healthcare directives work?
An advance healthcare directive is a legal document that allows you to outline your medical preferences if you become incapacitated and cannot effectively communicate your wishes. It is often referred to as a living will because it is implemented when you are still...
A QDOT can protect a large inheritance for a non-citizen spouse
There are a lot of misconceptions about whether people who are not U.S. citizens (either by birth or naturalization) can inherit assets from someone who has passed away. Californians who are citizens but are married to someone who hasn’t yet obtained their citizenship...