Creating an estate plan involves more than deciding on the distribution of your assets and naming beneficiaries. It’s also about planning for the unexpected, such as becoming incapacitated and unable to make your wishes known. Naming a power of attorney (POA) allows...
Sacramento Estate Planning Blog
What is a legacy letter?
Legacy letters are heartfelt messages that people leave behind for their loved ones, attached to their other important documents. Legacy letters are not essential to an estate plan, and they are not legally binding – but they can be powerful, nonetheless. Legacy...
3 preparatory steps to consider when estate planning
Many people fail to start estate planning because they find the prospect overwhelming. Dying without one in place could be problematic for those you leave behind, so you need to make a start as soon as possible. The following steps can help you get underway: 1. List...
4 tips for digital estate planning
Modern estate planning has undergone an enormous transformation with the proliferation of digital assets and online accounts. This shift necessitates careful consideration and planning for their management and distribution after one's passing. Without proper digital...
What are California’s requirements for a valid will?
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...
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...