Family trusts can be a handy estate planning tool. A family trust is one specific type of trust that families may use to preserve their financial legacy for many years down the road. This type of trust may be beneficial for you, even if you do not have a large estate....
A legacy plan is similar to an estate plan. Legacy planning is simply the act of preparing how to distribute your assets and property to your loved ones upon your death. Whether you have a small or a large estate, it is important to plan ahead regarding how you want...
When you get together with your family for the holidays, you may notice that some things have changed over the years. You may have gotten a new grandchild over the year or welcomed a new daughter-in-law into the family. These changes are a good reminder that you...
Revocable trusts can be a useful tool in estate planning. Trusts can be beneficial for many people, not just for those with estates on the larger side. Revocable trusts can simplify the distribution of estate assets and can also help to protect your privacy. What is a...
It is always a good idea to get started with creating your estate plans sooner rather than later. As you begin to consider what forms of estate planning are best for you, you might think about creating a trust. A trust is a legal document that allows a third party,...
Wills are the most basic form of estate planning. However, if you are getting ready to prepare a will, you should know that there are some properties that do not pass on via wills. This means that there is no benefit to including them in your will since the will does...
One of the first steps when it comes to estate planning is to create a will. While many people are focused on who to name as beneficiaries and what each beneficiary should receive from the estate, another important consideration is who to name as the executor of the...
Many estates in California must pass through the probate process before the estate assets and property are transferred to the heirs or beneficiaries of the deceased person. The probate process can be a lengthy one, often lasting for a year or more. It can also become...
The term probate is one that comes up often in the course of estate planning. Probate refers to the court proceedings and process in which a person’s estate is settled. In many cases, when a person dies, their estate must pass through probate in order for their assets...
Trusts can be a useful tool for comprehensive estate planning. Typically, if you opt to use just a will for your estate planning, the will must pass through probate before distributions can be made to beneficiaries. Probate involves court proceedings and can be...