In a perfect scenario, a well-drafted will allows surviving family members to know the decedent's precise wishes and the administration of the estate continues without delay. Sometimes, however, these matters are far from perfect and parties to the estate may believe...
When you get a divorce, one of the first things you’ll do is update your estate plan to remove your spouse from it. Your now ex-spouse usually will not remain in your estate plan unless there is a specific reason that you would like to keep them on as a beneficiary in...
If you are a parent, you will want to make sure that your children are always financially secure, no matter what age they are. Therefore, when you start planning your estate, it is likely that this will be your biggest priority, especially if your children are still...
You have worked hard and made difficult decisions throughout your life to build up your financial resources. You may have skipped going on vacation for years so that you could put that money aside for your retirement instead. Those assets you've acquired during your...
The property you have invested in throughout your life probably has some emotional significance for you. If you are like most working adults, you probably also hope to leave those assets to someone that you care about when you die. Unfortunately, many people...
Many California residents know that estate plan updates are almost as important as the original document. This point is relevant because many changes happen in the lives of testators after creating an estate plan. When these changes occur, alterations to an estate...
It's the scenario everyone hopes never happens: going through a medical emergency and being unable to speak for yourself. If this ever happens to you, do you know what your doctors and family will do? Will their decisions about your medical care be the same you would...
After someone dies, their estate typically must go through the probate process. However, many people are not aware of how time-consuming and expensive this process can be. The court-supervised process can be expensive and drawn out. It’s important to have a relatively...
When you created your revocable living trust, you likely transferred most of your assets to its ownership. Yet, you may have left certain assets out of your trust, whether by accident or on purpose. You will want to make sure, though, that these assets pass on to the...
Probate, even when it goes smoothly, can be a time-consuming hassle. If you are fortunate, a relatively low-maintenance estate may move through this process in about nine months. For more complex estates, probate may eat up 18 months or more. Litigation can upend...