Many Californians are single parents raising young children. In some cases, the other parent has passed away. Maybe the other parent has no custody rights. Perhaps they’ve chosen to have or adopt a child on their own. Whatever the case, it’s essential to ensure that your child will be cared for if you pass away […]

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If one or both of your parents have passed away, it is likely that they will have assets for distribution. As their child, you may expect that you will automatically be owed a share of the estate. While this is understandable, unfortunately, your right to inheritance depends on the instructions left within each parent’s estate […]

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Many people who are creating their estate plans believe that they’ve given their children every advantage in life to become successful, financially independent adults. Instead of leaving them a substantial amount of money or other assets when they die, they prefer to leave the bulk of their wealth to various worthwhile charities. They may even […]

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A comprehensive estate plan is often comprised of a number of documents. It’s crucial that they don’t contradict one another. This can cause confusion, delays and expense when it comes time for your executor(s) to settle your estate. Therefore, if you make changes to one document, your estate planning attorney can advise you if similar […]

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It is recommended that people plan their estate as early as possible because passing away without a will can lead to complex issues. When a person dies without an estate plan, this is known legally as dying intestate. When a person in California dies intestate, their assets will be distributed according to California law. This […]

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If your family doesn’t involve a spouse of the opposite sex and a couple of kids that you had together, you’re not alone. Family dynamics have evolved considerably in recent decades. The term “modern family” has largely replaced “traditional family.” A family can easily be comprised of an unmarried couple (of the opposite sex or […]

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Some important aspects of estate planning are done outside of “traditional” estate planning documents like wills and trusts. One of these involves something called the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA). Each state has its own UTMA. In California, it’s called the California Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (CUTMA). You can establish a CUTMA account at […]

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