Estate Planning

The recent passing of former President, George H. W. Bush, has left many Californians heartbroken. One reason is because he appeared to suffer from what some call the "broken heart syndrome." This is because former President Bush passed away just a mere eight months...

By engaging in California estate planning, individuals can ensure that they retain control over their assets for a significant period of time after their passing. This requires the utilization of many legal documents, but failing to do so can result in unwanted...

Last week on this blog, we talked about estate planning as it relates to hard assets, such as family heirlooms. Finding a satisfactory way to deal with this issue can be challenging, especially when multiple family members are hoping to inherit a specific piece of...

Figuring out how to divide assets is one of the hardest parts of estate planning. Many Californians choose to split an estate equally amongst loved ones, but even this can become challenging. Whereas assets like cash, stocks and bonds are easy to value and then...

California estate planning can be a difficult topic to contemplate, let alone discuss with loved ones. Many think that looping beloved family members into the conversation about estate planning can further family transparency and leave everyone feeling better. But,...

Many people put off estate planning because they are afraid to confront the thought of their own mortality. Next to death, when it comes to aging, people usually fear declining health. Yet, the sad reality is that many Californians will see their health significantly...

Thinking about your own mortality can be frightening. None of us like to think about when our time will come to an end, but it's inevitable, meaning that we all need to have our affairs in order before that time comes. For many people, this means engaging in estate...

We spend a lot of time on this blog discussing what many consider to be the biggest parts of estate planning. This includes how to utilize wills, trusts and other legal vehicles to protect estate assets and ensure that they are distributed according to an individual's...

Californians who have minimal assets may find the estate planning process to be pretty straightforward and simple. Those who have significant assets, though, may find the matter much more complicated. This can be especially true for those who own a business. Deciding...

Throughout life, individuals accumulate wealth in hopes of being able to meet their own needs and desires. If they are lucky, they are able to accomplish this feat and help out others in the process. However, once you pass away, your assets mean nothing to you....