You plan to be around to raise your child until they are an adult, but you also understand that unexpected things happen every day. People lose their lives in car accidents or to diseases. You don't want this to happen, but you do want some plan so that your family is...
We recently wrote a post that dealt with an individual’s life changes and different circumstances that could necessitate changes in an estate plan. However, your own life can remain virtually unchanged, but you still might need to reconsider the disbursement of your...
If you have a loved one in your family with questionable or perhaps negligent spending practices, you may feel concerned about them wasting their inheritance. You worked hard and saved to leave something behind for your family, and the last thing you want is for them...
If you have done the responsible thing and created an estate plan, you may think your set and that the planning process is complete. However, no matter what age you were at the time of creating the estate plan, things in your life will likely change from time to...
Most people count on the money in a bank account to pay their bills. When you pass away, your loved ones may need to access that money so they can take care of some urgent expenses. It’s imperative that you take the time to ensure they’ll be able to do this. One of...
Not long ago, our blog featured a post explaining how to continue controlling your medical care upon incapacitation by creating advanced medical directives. Now is an ideal time to expand on the topic by discussing how to select the right agent to act on your behalf...
The modern family unit looks different than when your grandparents got married. Families in previous eras typically consisted of two opposite-sex parents and one or several children. Today, families are as varied as the individuals that populate the earth. Napa,...
As people age, they often begin worrying about the kind of medical care they will receive if they become too ill or injured to voice their preferences. While you can convey your desires to your family, a legal document outlining your preferred options helps ensure...
When you die, any property in your name becomes part of your estate. What happens to that property depends on how well you plan before you die. If you pass without an estate plan, California state law determines who inherits your property. If you create a will, you...
One of the key goals of many people as they develop their estate plan is protecting the assets they leave their loved ones from going to taxes, creditors, ex-spouses and wasteful spending. There are ways to set up trusts that will protect your heirs and your money....