There are many tools out there marketed as effective and even easier than working with a lawyer. But given the broad reach of your estate planning will, it’s a good idea to make sure that you fully understand what’s required in California and all the ins and outs of what it takes for a will… Read More »
Blog Posts
I Just Moved to California: Do I Need a Will?
If you’re the type of family that moves often or has recently moved to be closer to relatives or to retire, it’s important to think about all the ways that your move could influence your estate planning. In addition to updating your address and beneficiary forms on file with your life insurance policy, you might… Read More »
What is California’s Intestate Succession Process?
If you don’t have a will in California and you pass away, your estate will become subject to intestate succession. This means that the State of California has predetermined rules about what should happen to the assets inside the estate. If you had specific wishes but never articulated them within a will, your wishes might… Read More »
Can a Person Ever Disclaim an Inheritance?
While most people would be happy to receive news of an inheritance, there are certain times when a person receives property through a trust, through intestate succession, or through a will does not wish to receive this property. If a person stands to inherit property but does not want to formally receive it, either from… Read More »
You’ve Been Appointed as A California Executor: What Happens Now?
A person who is appointed as an executor of an estate in California has a specific fiduciary duty to adhere to the terms of a will as outlined by a person who created the will. This means that personal liability might be associated with the executor if this person fails to perform as required. An… Read More »
How Can I Create a Trust in California?
Certain legal requirements must be met in order for a trust to be viewed as legally valid in the state of California. This is outlined under California probate section 15200. A trust can be created by a number of different methods. Deciding which of these methods is most appropriate to you can be accomplished by… Read More »
What is the SECURE Act and How Does it Affect My Retirement?
A new law could have big impacts on your personal retirement planning options. Having a relationship with an estate planning law firm in Pasadena means that you’ll be kept up to date with any statewide or federal changes in tax laws and estate laws that might require you to update your documents and plans. The… Read More »
7 Simple Estate Planning Steps to Check Off in 2020
Had “make estate plan” on your New Year’s resolutions for years now and never quite made it happen? Here’s the good news- you can break estate planning down into seven simple steps and work on one at a time. Work through these and meet with a Pasadena law firm for estate planning and you’ll have… Read More »
Do My Kids Need to Know How I Made Estate Planning Decisions?
Choosing how much to disclose around your decision-making process is a very difficult process. Plenty of families have one person in the family who steps up or always seems at the ready to help with these kinds of details. Having one person as the go-to can be helpful because it reduces the conflict or coordination… Read More »
What Are Trust Restatements and Amendments?
With a revocable trust, there’s always the possibility that you want to change things in the future. Changes in your individual life might prompt you to make updates to your original living trust. You might also want to have your trust reviewed by a Pasadena estate planning lawyer if it’s been a few years since… Read More »
What is Medi-Cal Estate Recovery?
If you plan to make an application for Medicaid benefits in California, you need to understand how Medi-Cal works. These laws and rules are very complicated and what seems like a minor mistake could be catastrophic in relation to a Medicaid application. With the right professional team of advisors, such as an elder law attorney… Read More »
When is a Medicaid Issue a Medicaid Crisis?
Advanced planning can help you avoid many of the potential downfalls with a Medicaid problem, but you can still benefit from meeting with a Pasadena elder law attorney when you need urgent help with Medicaid. A Medicaid crisis strategy applies when a single person needs to enter a nursing home for the purposes of receiving… Read More »
Do I Need a Power of Attorney for Assets?
No one wants to think about what happens to their affairs if they become unable to manage them or answer questions on their own. But it’s up to you to decide what you want to happen if you need another person to step in and care for these concerns on your behalf. A power of… Read More »
What Elder Law Issues Do I Need to Consider Before Meeting with a Lawyer?
Some of the most common elder law issues facing clients happen in crisis situations. Advanced planning and sitting down with an attorney can pave the way to make things slightly easier for your loved ones in a difficult situation, such as an immediate need for long-term care. Having blind spots with regard to elder law… Read More »
Should You Update Your Estate Documents with Handwritten Notes?
Once you’ve created a will or other estate planning documents, it’s easy to think that simple changes can be marked in your own handwriting on these documents. If you want to avoid having to go back to your attorney and creating something entirely new, you might think that a quick edit is what’s in order…. Read More »
Don’t Miss These Succession Planning Basics
Every business owner has to consider succession planning options. While it might initially seem overwhelming to approach this on your own, the good news is that you don’t have to do it by yourself. Succession plans should always be written with the assistance of attorneys and accountants because this will minimize the chances of problems… Read More »
Do I Need Just a Will or Revocable Living Trust, Too?
Your estate planning document needs depend on your individual goals and what you hope to accomplish both during your life and afterwards. With so many options available, knowing that you can speak to an experienced estate planning lawyer in Pasadena helps you to prepare for the right strategies and documents. We often guide our clients… Read More »
What Will Happen to Estate Tax Benefits After 2025?
According to recent news from the IRS, taxpayers will be able to benefit from higher thresholds for US gift and estate taxes, even if they do not pass away after the current tax overall program expires in 2026. The updates from the 2017 tax law essentially doubled the gift tax and estate tax exemption, meaning… Read More »
Does A Millennial Really Need Estate Planning?
Millennials might be more likely to travel and seek out the digital nomad lifestyle, but it can be a big mistake to do this without thinking about the possible estate planning complications. Even those in traditional jobs should sit down with a lawyer to discuss tools for younger people with the intention of updating these… Read More »
What Does It Mean to Say Something is a Step Up in Basis?
When you pass something on to your heirs, it’s smart to think about the possible tax consequences well in advance. Step-up in basis is one of the least commonly understood aspects of tax considerations relevant for real estate investors. If you intend to pass on real estate assets to your beneficiaries, the step-up in basis… Read More »