Millions of Americans have no will or final testament. Some Americans believe that estate planning is something they can put off until they are closer to retirement. Some Americans with smaller estates believe that estate planning is something only wealthy people need...
Year: 2021
Carefully consider intellectual property during estate planning
Not all assets in a California estate are tangible. When considering how you will pass on your assets to your survivors, you should also consider the value of your intellectual property. All items in this category are non-tangible assets that can increase the value of...
Topics to address when writing your will
One of the primary components of your estate plan in California is your will. This formal legal document addresses your final wishes regarding your monetary assets and personal belongings. There are a number of strategies you may use when organizing your will and...
Why beneficiary designations matter
Naming beneficiaries is an important part of your estate planning in California. Most commonly, beneficiary designations are used with retirement accounts and life insurance policies. Assets with beneficiary designations If you have a retirement account, you were...
A closer look at advance directives
California residents who are thinking about estate planning will likely be instructed to create an advance directive. There are two main types that include the medical power of attorney and the living will. Understanding how to write one of these directives can help...
Important documents for your San Jose, CA, estate plan
Estate plans are made up of numerous documents, each of which plays an important role in ensuring that all your wishes will be carried out upon your death. Leaving out a particular document doesn’t nullify the legally binding nature of your other documents, but it...
What is the effect of Prop. 19?
Estate planning involves more than writing a will and other necessary documents. The planning frequently entails looking at the larger picture, including tax implications. California residents may now need to review the rules regarding property inheritance. The recent...
How to include your spouse in your estate
Estate planning and trust planning are essentially creating a road map for your family's future. Take a brief look at estate planning in California and how to use trusts to ensure that your spouse and other loved ones are properly taken care of. Estate planning Estate...
The difference between assault and battery in California
Assault and battery are often mentioned together, but they are actually separate crimes in California. Simple assault is a misdemeanor in the Golden State, but prosecutors can choose to file misdemeanor or felony charges in battery cases. Crimes that can be prosecuted...
3 situations in which hearsay evidence is admissible in court
In the courts of San Jose, California, hearsay evidence is not generally admissible in most cases. This is because hearsay consists of statements made by an individual while not under oath, which gives the court plenty of reason to doubt the veracity of their claims....