One aspect of estate planning that many people may be able to use to their advantage, particularly when it comes to taxes, is gifting. When it comes to gifts and estate planning, there are laws and rules in place both federally and in the state of California.If you...

 Due to the constant evolution of technology, it is important to incorporate plans for your digital assets in your estate plans. Digital assets may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you start to prepare estate plans, but these assets must be accounted...

When you begin the process of estate planning, you should make sure to include special assets in your estate plans. Special assets are assets that need special consideration because of their value, significance, or the nature of the asset itself. For some special...

Many people believe that estate planning is very complicated--and therefore, do not make it a priority in their lives. However, once you learn some of the basic terminology associated with estate planning, it will begin to make more sense to you. You will soon...

The holiday season is a hectic time for most people. While there are a lot of things to buy and events to attend that may be occupying most of your time, it is important also to take the time to think about updating your estate plans. The end of the year is a great...

When it comes to estate planning, it is crucial to stay informed about changing laws that may affect your estate. An area of law with relatively frequent changes that can impact estate plans is tax law. Changes in tax law can have a major effect on your estate, so it...

When someone close to you dies, moving forward can be a difficult process for many reasons. It can be a particularly challenging time if you are tasked with gathering up necessary documents, finding the will, or handling any other administrative types of tasks to get...

When you decide to get started with estate planning, the first thing that may come to mind is ensuring your financial assets are distributed according to your wishes upon your passing. However, there is much more to consider when it comes to estate planning. While...

Whether you are a recent beneficiary of an IRA or you are planning to leave your IRA to a chosen beneficiary as part of your estate plans, you should know the state and federal rules regarding inherited IRAs. An inherited IRA can result in a substantial distribution...

It is always a good idea to get started with estate planning as early as you can, but there are some situations in which preparing your estate plans is of even greater importance. These situations will be discussed in more detail below, but any time a major life...