Most individuals chosen to serve as the trustee of a loved one’s trust understand that they have a specific set of duties to fulfill. Together, these responsibilities make up the fiduciary duty. Trustees have a fiduciary duty to the beneficiaries to act in their best interests while honoring their loved one’s wishes. However, there are many more […]

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Unfortunately, there is no way to predict when a medical emergency could happen. But Californians can take measures to plan for situations like these. When an individual gives someone they trust healthcare powers of attorney, they also give that person the responsibility of representing them and their wishes. This person is the healthcare agent. And […]

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When you’re creating your estate plan, you’ll need to determine what details you want to share with family members and what to keep to yourself. Of course, there are some things you’ll need to discuss with at least one or more family members. For example, you need to get someone’s agreement before making them your […]

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Among the most important decisions you’ll make as you create your estate plan is naming the trustees and successor trustees of your trusts. A dishonest trustee can take all of your hard-earned assets and keep them from the loved ones and beneficiaries you intended to leave them to. When considering whom you want to manage […]

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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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Your last living parent or perhaps another elderly relative whose estate you were chosen to administer has passed away. They never got around to downsizing and decluttering — something we talked about recently. They’ve got a home filled with items that go back many decades. Some may have considerable monetary value, while others may only have sentimental […]

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Many Californians resist putting an estate plan in place. Even when people get older and their health starts to deteriorate, they may feel like planning for their death is tempting fate. However, an estate plan isn’t just about designating what will happen to our assets after we’re gone. Many estate planning documents are designed to […]

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If you’re planning to give marriage a second (or maybe third) try in the new year, you likely have more assets and people to protect that you did when you married the first time. A prenuptial agreement can help you and your partner protect the assets you bring into the marriage and ensure that the […]

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You’re drafting a detailed, well-thought-out estate plan with your attorney. You’re stipulating your wishes for your assets clearly so that your administrators can carry out your wishes. You’ve also got powers of attorney designated to handle your finances and oversee your health care if you become seriously injured or disabled and can’t speak for yourself. […]

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As we approach the holidays, many Americans are committing to finally discussing their estate plans with their family members. This may be the only time of the year when everyone is together in one place. Whether you have most of your decisions made or need input from your family before beginning to draft the plan […]

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