Actor Luke Perry, best known for his work on "Beverly Hills 90210," recently passed away at the young age of 52. Nobody expects to suddenly pass away so young, which makes Perry's death all the more tragic. It is usually in these circumstances that families find...
Understanding the basics of trusts as estate planning tools can be crucial for California residents. Trusts are essentially agreements that dictate how assets will be managed and distributed to named beneficiaries. The creator, or grantor, of a trust can name a...
The creation of a will or trust should leave an individual feeling comfortable with how his or her estate will be distributed upon death. Sometimes, however, squabbles arise over the validity of these estate planning documents when individuals challenge the creator's...
Fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld recently passed away, leaving many wondering what will become of his estate. Lagerfeld, who was 85 at the time of his passing, had a pet cat, Choupette. The feline has even become famous in his own right, with an Instagram account and...
The vast majority of people who find estate planning imperative are those who have children. These individuals often want to make sure that their assets are left to their kids and their spouse in a way that protects their financial future and maintains the estate's...
No two families are the same. Some families may appear "traditional," with two spouses remaining married for the long-term and raising children, while others are "untraditional." These latter families can involve step-parents and step-children, unmarried couples,...
Estate plans can address significant wealth. When familial tensions run high, these plans can run into conflict, with multiple parties claiming that they should have their fair share of an estate's assets. Those who are not prepared to head off these disputes can have...
We've spent quite a bit of time on this blog discussing various types of trusts. These estate planning vehicles can serve an important purpose. They can allow an individual to leave assets to others with certain restrictions applied. There are oftentimes tax...
It's no secret that divorce is a common occurrence in California and throughout the country. So, too, is remarriage after divorce. While statistics show that less than one out of every five divorced individuals remarry, the rate is significantly higher for those 55...
Most, if not all, Californians want to avoid the probate process. After all, having an estate subjected to probate can make the matter public, and it is usually lengthy and costly. For these reasons, many people who engage in estate planning do so, at least in part,...