Two things in life are certain: death and taxes, which is probably why probate is a word that makes most people cringe. It forces you to consider your own mortality or comes into play after the loss of a loved one. You might find the term unfamiliar or confusing, not understanding what it actually means […]

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Your loved one has passed away. Whether the passing took you by surprise or was expected after a long-term illness, it isn’t easy to deal with their loss. When the only thing you want to do is mourn their death and look to the future, you have to think about their estate. You have to […]

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As shocking as the death of music icon Prince last month at 57 years old was to millions of fans around the world, the reports that he seems to have left no will or other estate planning documents are also shocking to many people. Why would a multimillionaire with vast amounts of music that will […]

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Saying good-bye to a loved one is never easy, but it is far more difficult when left with an unorganized estate plan, complicated assets and no direction. One daunting task involves closing their accounts. The methods of closing accounts are not uniform and in some cases, it can become a frustrating or even drawn-out nightmare. […]

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Many people make assumptions about family, particularly their parents. They assume that their parents should take care of them in childhood, that they will step in and help their parents a bit during their golden years if needed, and when their parents are gone they will take care of them once again — by leaving […]

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It is arguably tragic when an elderly person passes away without having the opportunity to enjoy their golden years by retiring. We use the term “arguably” because we understand that some people don’t want to retire, and their passion may be killed if they are unable to do what they love for as long as […]

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It can be especially difficult to witness a loved one age and develop serious, devastating health disorders that affect his or her mental capacity. Although most people in California understand how important estate plans are, not everyone has the legal protections in place to avoid being taken advantage of. When dementia or other illnesses leave […]

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Thinking about, much less planning, for the inevitable end of life can be extremely uncomfortable for many people. Because of this, crucial aspects of estate planning are often put off or neglected. After all, the future can seem so very far away, so why worry unnecessarily now? In reality, estate planning is not something that […]

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The focus of estate planning is often about what will happen to a person’s assets after he or she has passed away. Although this is a reasonable focus for estate planning, some people in California still continue to shirk the process on the basis that they simply do not care what happens to their possessions […]

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Communication is important for any area in life. It is particularly important when it comes to estate planning in California. Failure to communicate with family members and intended beneficiaries can result in future problems. One common mistake is when people decide how they would like to have their assets divided without consulting with intended heirs. Many times […]

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