» Getting started with an estate plan

Were your documents signed in the 80s or 90s, or the early 2000s?  If so, your documents are likely terribly out of date. Federal estate taxes, gift taxes, and generation-skipping transfer taxes went through major changes during these years.   Read More

Who should you choose to be your successor trustee? If you have a revocable living trust, you probably named yourself as trustee so you can continue to manage your own financial affairs.  Eventually, someone else will need to step in when you are no… Read More

Creating a revocable trust gives you flexibility over your assets while you’re alive and also clearly states your intentions should you become incapacitated and unable to manage your affairs, as well as after your death. Read More

Transfer on death or payable on death accounts sound great at first glance - exactly because they are so easy to set up. However, there may be problems ahead for your beneficiaries if their circumstances change in any way. Read More

You have just signed the paperwork on what is probably your most valuable asset. Now is the time to protect that asset for your family. In California, probate fees are based on the value of the house – whether or not you owe money on a mortgage! Read More

Are your beneficiary designations consistent with your estate planning wishes? In the event of your untimely death, the manner in which your beneficiaries receive your assets, including life insurance, depends on how your property is titled. Read More

When you create a living trust, you usually need to choose who to name as your successor trustee. It is crucial that this decision is not taken lightly and that the right person is selected for the job. Read More

Estate planning creates stability in times of loss. If you end up in a state of incapacity later in life, it’s guaranteed to be a difficult time for your family. If your estate plan doesn’t include detailed instructions Read More