Most people in California have good intentions when it comes to estate planning. They know they have to get around to it someday. Unfortunately, for too many people that "someday" never comes, and they die without leaving a trust or will that directs how they want...
Under California law, some basic requirements must be met for a will to be valid. Anyone age 18 or over can make a will, provided that the person is mentally competent to do so. The California Probate Code makes it clear that a person is mentally competent to make a...
It has been a year since the death of comedian Robin Williams, who committed suicide in his Northern California home on August 11, 2014. Sadly, his widow and his children from previous marriages remain entangled in a bitter dispute over his estate. According to an...
Californians with children from a previous marriage should seriously consider updating their estate plan when they remarry. California parents in blended families often want to leave most of their estate to their children, but also provide for their current spouse....
Sacramento is the perfect city to settle down, start a family, open a business or retire. In the midst of all these crazy life decisions, it would be unwise to forget about estate planning tools at your disposal, such as wills or trusts. Once settled in a city like...
When a California woman died last year at age 91, her caretaker was left in control of her assets. The caretaker, now 63, met the woman in 2002 when she was recovering from surgery in an Orange County care center. When she left the facility and went home in 2003, the...
The living trust has become a popular estate planning vehicle for many California residents. A trust is a legal arrangement in which property is transferred to a trustee, who manages the property for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries in the trust...
Throughout their lives, many Americans may acquire assets and wealth such as a house, recreational toys, and investments. Unfortunately, no one can live forever, and tomorrows are never guaranteed. With that in mind, it is important to draft a will to insure that all...
Many people have put estate planning into the category of things they will get around to someday in the future. They may be under the impression that estate planning is a complicated process that takes a lot of work. However, for most California residents, preparing...
Most people in California probably assume that rock stars' financial lives are handled by legions of lawyers and accountants who make sure their clients' wealth is safely invested and their posterity provided for. This is not always the case, however. As a recent news...