Having an estate plan is a crucial way to preserve your legacy. However, to ensure it continues to provide the protection you want and need, you should consider reviewing and revising your plan after certain life events. Relationship changes When people leave or come...
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Estate Planning
The time of filing for probate is not a time for surprises
Many people think probate is a nightmare. It can certainly be a stressful experience. While families process their grief and try to deal with their shock and emotions, family members and often friends want to know who is going to be the Executor (if there is a Will)...
Tips for dividing your estate without dividing your family
Creating an estate plan is a valuable way to prevent unnecessary legal conflicts and delays. However, even with a plan serving as a guide, distributing your property after you pass away can trigger fights and resentments among your loved ones. Taking certain...
Is a green burial right for you?
People often want to leave a lasting, positive legacy when they are gone. This legacy can stretch beyond loved ones to charitable organizations and - increasingly - the environment. A small but growing preference for people regarding their final arrangements is to...
Part two: Finding a trust
Wills are some of the most common estate planning documents. However, if your family cannot find the will after your loved one passes away, it can pose a real challenge. As we discussed in Part One of this series, Californians cannot file a will with a court before...
What you should know when choosing your executor
When you sit down to hammer out your estate plan, you have a lot of important decisions to make. In addition to where you want your assets to go, you also have to make healthcare decisions for yourself and try to foresee all possible eventualities. In the midst of all...
Why are funeral plans important?
Death is not an easy subject to think about – much less funerals. It is generally because these topics are so difficult to think about that many people put off other aspects of estate planning for so long. Funeral planning might not be your or your loved one’s...
Why a plan before college is critical
Many people see the age of 18 as an important milestone. After all, that is when you become an adult in the eyes of the law. However, it is easy to overlook the implications of this moment. Parents and children alike might celebrate this occasion, but the moment your...
3 reasons to have a health historian
In a previous blog post, we discussed how beneficial it is for individuals to have a health historian. This is not an official role, which leads many people to wonder: how can a health historian really help me? 1. Someone can represent you if you cannot speak for...
Unmarried couples: Can you make medical decisions?
According to the Pew Research Center, the rates of cohabitation between unmarried couples of all ages has increased. There are many reasons for this increase. Some couples choose to remain unmarried while many live together before getting married nowadays. Regardless...