One of the most important considerations when planning your estate is how to protect it from creditors. Whether it's potential lawsuits, unpaid debts, or other financial obligations, safeguarding your assets is a crucial part of ensuring your wealth is passed down to your heirs. In California, th...

One of the most common questions I receive in my estate planning practice is whether a "Do-It-Yourself" (DIY) Will is a valid and safe option in California. While the allure of creating a cheap, quick Will may seem tempting, the risks associated with DIY Wills are often overlooked. A Will is an i...

When it comes to estate planning in California, one of the most important assets to consider is real estate. Whether you own your primary residence, rental properties, or vacation homes, placing your real estate holdings in a trust can be a strategic move to protect your property, avoid probate, ...

One of the most common questions I get from clients who are considering a reverse mortgage is whether it will impact their estate plan. A reverse mortgage can be an effective financial tool for retirees looking to supplement their income, but it is important to understand how it affects the legac...

As a California estate planning attorney, one of the most important discussions I have with clients involves planning for the possibility of future incapacity. It's not the easiest topic to talk about, but it's an essential part of ensuring your affairs are handled according to your wishes if you...

As an estate planning attorney, many of my clients come to me to establish living trusts, particularly those with significant assets in California. Living trusts offer several benefits, including avoiding probate and providing a clear, efficient way to manage and distribute your estate. However, ...

One of the most common discussions I have with my clients involves how to ensure their assets pass smoothly to their loved ones after death. A common goal is to avoid the often lengthy and expensive process of probate. While many clients come in thinking a Living Trust is their only option, there...

In estate planning, ensuring assets are properly titled to avoid probate is critical. One of the tools that can help achieve this goal is the "Heggstad Petition," a procedure that has become indispensable in California. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with the attorney who inve...

Creating your estate plan is a big deal—it's a way to make sure your wishes are honored and your loved ones are taken care of after you're gone. But here's the thing: making that plan isn't a one-and-done deal. Just like you wouldn't let your car go without an oil change for years, you shouldn't ...

As an Estate Planning attorney, I frequently have clients request that their pets be provided for in their Trust. As a proud owner of a Golden Doodle, I can relate to how pets truly are a part of the family.  Sometimes, people who are non pet owners can't quite relate but for animal lovers, I am ...

I often have clients who are refferred to me for the purposes of Estate Planning and are curious about how the process works.  Many clients call my office about a Will or a Trust. Generally, the process involves an initial phone interview where I ask high level questions such as if the client is ...

As part of my Comprehensive Estate Planning package, I offer a Living Trust, a Durable Power of Attorney and an Advanced Healthcare Directive.  My experience is that most people know what a Living Trust is but are not so familiar with what an Advanced Healthcare Directive is. Today I am going to ...

When people come to my office to create a Will or Living Trust they often ask me if when they pass away whether or not their Beneficiaries will have to pay any taxes on their inheritance.  I also get this question frequently from Beneficiaries.  The answer to this question generally depends on th...

Frequently, clients call me to set up a Living Trust.  When I ask about their goals, they mention that they would like to protect their assets from potential creditors. At that point, I explain in the nicest possible way so as not to insult their level of knowledge, that unfortunately Living Trus...

Starting in around March, 2020, right around the time when California and other States went into shut down, I experienced an uptick in inquiries from people interested in doing their Will or Trust.  It could be that people had more time on their hands due to working from home. Of course, the othe...

Often times when people come to my office to set up a Trust they ask me about what would happen if if they forget to title their house or car or bank account in their Trust.  This often happens in situations when people are in a rush to do their Trust. While most of the time I recommend that at t...