What Happens When Someone Dies Without a Will or Family? In California, dying without a will is called dying intestate. When a person passes away intestate and has no identifiable family, the fate of their property is left entirely to the state’s probate court system. Without a valid estate plan in place, you give up […]

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Adding a family member to your deed may seem like a simple way to avoid probate or transfer your home to a loved one. However, this decision carries legal, financial, and tax consequences that are often overlooked. In California, the risks of adding someone to your home title can outweigh the benefits, especially if your […]

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Many families lose thousands of dollars to estate taxes when a loved one passes away. But often, this can be avoided by giving some of their wealth away during their lifetime, rather than leaving it all behind. The time to understand these strategies is now, before your own estate faces similar challenges. Understanding estate taxes […]

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You are the one who cares and advocates for your loved one with disabilities. They depend on you. While you may take on the role of caregiver now, you may not be able to help but worry about what could happen if you were no longer around to care for them. Estate planning can be […]

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Probate can become complicated when an estate has complex assets, such as real estate. You may want to help your family avoid probate and protect your legacy by circumventing the probate process. When it comes to real estate, you may consider putting a loved one, such as a child or sibling, on the dead of […]

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It is common to hear quite negative, and even scary, things about probate. So, when you begin the process of estate planning, you may wonder: is there a way to make things easier on that front for your family? There are steps you can take. These are three actions you can take now that could […]

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Over the years, you fill your home with memories, things you love and value. You may have shelves of books, cabinets with heirlooms and souvenirs on display and many more knick-knacks. When it comes to creating your will, you may wonder: will it be necessary to address every single one of these belongings in your estate […]

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Life gets busy. The to-do list may seem never-ending, and the matter of planning for the future can fall lower on the list each day. However, this is a trend that seems to be widespread. This past March, Forbes reported that there has been a significant decrease in estate planning among older Americans. You may […]

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One essential detail of creating a will – or any estate planning document – is testamentary capacity. Put simply, this means that the person who creates the will must have a sound mind. This aspect can come into question if a loved one faces a dementia diagnosis. Your loved one and your family may face […]

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As you age, it is only natural to become more forgetful. It is only when this forgetfulness becomes more frequent or even dangerous, that it becomes a concern for you and your family. You might worry that this increased forgetfulness could be a much larger issue – dementia. Here are some important things to consider. […]

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