Imagine your ex wakes up one day to find they have received a lump sum payout from your retirement account. Or, imagine your younger child discovers that your life insurance policy has gone entirely into the bank account of their older sibling. Both of these...
Whether you’ve recently moved to California or you’re in the process of preparing to move, you’ve got a lot on your mind and probably a to-do list that seems endless. If you have an estate plan that was drawn up in another state, don’t forget that it will need...
As a small business owner, it helps to realize that you cannot think about estate planning without including your business. If you fail to plan for succession, you may inadvertently devalue one of the most valuable assets you have to leave. What is business succession...
There is a host of movies called “Dead Men Can’t something.” “Dead Men Can’t Dance,” “Dead Men Can’t Wear Plaid,” and so on. Probate exists because dead men can’t own property. If you want to avoid an asset going through probate when you die, you need to make sure...
When you become a parent, you soon learn how to motivate your child. If you have more than one child, you will notice that each responds best to different types of motivation. Creating an incentive trust is one form of motivating your children. However, while it works...
When creating your will, you might consider inserting a no-contest clause. It can act as a deterrent to prevent anyone from challenging your wishes. However, a California court will not always uphold a no-contest clause. When does California consider a no-contest...
There may come a time due to an accident or illness when you cannot make health care decisions for yourself. As part of your estate planning, you need to appoint someone who can step in and make medical decisions on your behalf. They are known as a health care proxy....
Thousands of people go missing every year in the United States. While many soon turn up, some never do. If you were to go missing, it could have a negative financial impact on your family, aside from the sense of worry and loss. They might need to seek conservatorship...
Benjamin Franklin once said that “nothing is certain except death and taxes.” While death certainly is inevitable, paying taxes on death is not. Avoiding or reducing the tax you pay when transferring your estate is one of the key estate planning goals. You may not own...
Nursing homes are not a worldwide phenomenon. In many cultures, people expect children to care for their elderly parents themselves. Despite the ubiquity of care homes in the United States, you may be surprised to know that some states, including California, have laws...
