Knowledge is Power
As a female attorney in California specializing in estate planning, I often have clients who say that they’re too young or healthy to start planning their estate. And while it’s understandable to feel that way, the truth is that there’s no such thing as too early when it comes to estate planning. You see,…
As an attorney in California who specializes in estate planning, trust administration, probate, and more, I have seen firsthand the importance of having legal documents in place to protect my clients’ assets and ensure their wishes are carried out. However, one document that is often overlooked but equally important is a living will. A…
When you pass away, your family may need to go through the probate process in order to claim their inheritance. This would happen if you own property (like a house, car, bank account, investment account, or other asset) in your name only and you have not completed a beneficiary, pay-on-death, or transfer-on-death designation. Although having…
One would assume that celebrities with extreme wealth would take steps to protect their estates. But think again: some of the world’s richest and most famous people enter the pearly gates with no estate plan, while others have made estate planning mistakes that tied up their fortunes and heirs in court for years. Let us…
Prince was the latest in a string of celebrities who passed away without having an estate plan in place. When someone passes away without an estate plan, the government has a set of default rules regarding who will receive the deceased’s estate. Many times, this may include people you may not want to receive your…
In a financial power of attorney, you designate a trusted decision maker (agent or attorney-in-fact) to act on your behalf if you become disabled or unable to manage your financial affairs. Depending on the provisions you choose to include, your agent may have the power to buy and sell property, the power to invest, and…
Although your death is probably a long way off, it is important that you have a plan to ensure that your affairs are settled in the way that you want. An estate plan crafted by an experienced estate planning attorney is a legally enforceable set of documents that allows you to name who will have…
Cryptocurrency’s popularity has rapidly increased in recent years, with more people buying and selling it. Here are three things you need to know about cryptocurrency in relation to your estate plan. Beware of the Tax Consequences Transferring your cryptocurrency to other people, either during life or at your death, could have income, estate, and gift…
Every year on the Fourth of July, Americans across the country celebrate our nation’s declaration of independence from Great Britain. Yet only about one-third of Americans have an estate plan—meaning that most Americans have given up their independence when it comes to deciding what will happen to them should they become incapacitated and what will…
