When you're developing your estate plan, you need to determine what will happen not just to your primary residence but to your vacation home(s). Whether it's a centuries-old house by the ocean that's been in your family for generations or a mountain cabin where you...
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Year: 2016
What are my duties as a trustee or executor?
Being named as the executor of someone's estate, or the trustee of a trust, can seem like an overwhelming responsibility. In order to avoid being overwhelmed, it is important to understand your duties as executor or trustee. While below are some of the basics...
Wise estate planning can protect your home from a Medi-Cal lien
When Californians apply for Medi-Cal, which is our state's version of Medicaid, they often believe that by listing their home as exemption, they are protecting it from being taken to repay the benefits they've received from Medi-Cal. However, that's not the case. Just...
Should you close house and change locks when a parent dies?
If a parent dies and you're the executor of the will, one of the first things you have to do is take stock of exactly what is in the house. The will may lay out what possessions go to which heirs, or it may give you more general directions about splitting things up...
Estate planning essential for farmers and ranchers
For California families who own farms or ranches, estate planning is essential to help ensure that the businesses they've worked so hard to build and maintain continue on successfully when they're no longer around. However, as with all types of estate planning, too...
Why people without kids need an estate plan
Too often, people who don't have children don't have a will or other estate planning documents in place. However, in many cases, these are the people who need them the most. Even if you don't have children, you likely would prefer that other family members, favorite...
How to keep your estate documents safe and accessible
Estate documents are essential to uphold your voice on important matters and your family's future after you have passed on. These documents should stay safe and easily accessible to your family when you can no longer be there to guide them. There is no point in having...
Why an estate plan is essential for single parents
Most single parents have little time to think about estate planning. If they're relatively young and healthy, many do not. However, things can change in the blink of an eye. That's why it's essential to ensure that you've made arrangements not only to ensure that your...
Secular or religious? Your estate can reflect your beliefs.
While most individuals are familiar with the secular features of an estate, they may not realize that their religious concerns can be addressed during estate planning. Religious practices and beliefs can serve as a guide in choosing fiduciaries, distributing funds and...
Leaving your children assets without ruining their future
Most of us have heard stories of young people who were left a considerable amount of money by their parents, and therefore never felt the drive to succeed on their own merits. Too often, it doesn't end well for them. That's why many people who have a considerable...