Creating an estate plan is a vital task for adults. For those who live in California, writing out a will is one of the cornerstones of this plan. In order for it to be legally valid and enforceable, a will must meet the standards set by the state. There are a few...
Sacramento Estate Planning Blog
Charitable trusts: An option to support favorite causes
Charitable trusts are an option for people who want to include their favorite charity or charities in their estate plan. While giving to those causes is the purpose of these, there are a couple of ways this can happen. Unlike private trusts, which are established to...
Who will inherit from my estate?
You’re planning on making a will. With the use of this legal document, you can instruct how your estate should be handled after you pass away. This document contains a list of your assets and an executor of the estate. Typically, the main focus of this document is to...
4 reasons to discuss estate planning with your parents
Conversations with your parents about estate planning can be uncomfortable. You worry they might be offended by the topic and question your motives. But eventually, they will pass away, and there are a few reasons why you and your parents need to have an open and...
Can a trust outgrow its usefulness?
When you set up a trust, you likely want to have some control over what happens to the money. Instead of just passing that money on to the next generation through your will, you are going to fund the trust in advance. This way you can choose a specific purpose for it....
Why do people try to avoid probate?
Most people use a will as the principal vehicle for their estate planning. There is nothing wrong with this; you can accomplish a lot with a simple will. However, one disadvantage is that most wills must pass through probate. While the probate process offers the...
Why can incentive trusts lead to resentment?
An incentive trust can be useful if you want to influence a beneficiary’s behavior in the future. You can use the trust to give them certain incentives so they will live in a way that you approve of. This can also be used to protect the inheritance if you’re worried...
Should you wait until you have more assets for estate planning?
When you look into the statistics, you’ll find that most people don’t have an estate plan. There are a few different reasons for this, such as those who aren’t sure what paperwork they need or who find the process confusing and overwhelming. But one common refrain...
Is your will outdated? 3 signs to look out for
A will is one of the most important legal documents you can ever create and sign. With a valid will in place, you can have peace of mind knowing that your assets will be passed down to the right people when you die. To serve its intended purpose, however, your will...
Does a power of attorney apply immediately?
There are some things that people legally only have the right to do for themselves. For example, unless the person is a minor, only they can make medical decisions. This power can be transferred using a power of attorney. With this document, an individual chooses an...