Income inequality has become a major topic of political discussion in California and across the United States. Over the past couple of years, the media has published countless articles about the amount of wealth controlled by a small percentage of Americans. And, in...
For many in California, it can be uncomfortable to consider the inevitable reality of death. But, it is something that will happen to everyone. With that in mind, there are certain issues that have to be accounted for regardless of the financial and personal situation...
Thinking in the worst case scenario is often uncomfortable for California residents, but to ensure financial stability and that wishes are carried out, in the event of incapacitation, it is necessary. One method that can be beneficial to protecting one's property and...
While it might be an uncomfortable subject for people in Sacramento to broach, the realities of life are that death is inevitable. With that in mind, people with children need to be aware of the various options that are available when it comes to estate planning. This...
When a parent of adult children remarries, it often creates friction between the children from the former marriage and the new spouse. When the parent dies, that friction can boil over into bitter disputes over the parent's estate. This appears to be what has happened...
A California estate plan is set out in a series of key documents prepared before one's death. We discussed one of these documents, the durable power of attorney, in last week's post.Beneficiary designation forms are another important part of an estate plan, and often...
For most Californians, estate planning means making plans for the disposition of one's property after death. While this is usually the most important aspect of estate planning, it is far from the only one. Many people, especially as they get older, face the...
In California, trusts have long been a favored means of estate planning. Trusts provide great flexibility can help avoid probate and often significant tax advantages.A trust is created by a person known as the trustor or settlor, who places property in the trust and...
The death of rock legend David Bowie at the age of 69 on January 10 came as a shock to many music fans in Northern California. Fortunately for his loved ones, Bowie had prepared an estate plan and executed a will in 2004.Bowie left an estate estimated to be worth...
An estate plan is a written instrument used by individuals in California and elsewhere to pass their assets and property to their heirs and beneficiaries. In order for these assets to be transferred after the person's death, the probate process will need to be...