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...

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...

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...

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...

Whether you are a sole proprietor, run a family business or co-own a company with partners, you may need an estate plan that includes a succession plan for your California business. The documents and structure that you need will vary based on your type of business and...

While no one wants to face their own mortality, the concept of estate planning is something that everyone must think about at some point. It’s incredibly easy for young parents in California to assume that the need for early estate planning isn’t there, but it...

Many Californians understand the importance of a will. However, some may mistakenly believe that their will overpowers anything else that might determine the distribution of property and assets, such as the beneficiary designation forms for certain accounts. Both...

People in California who are writing a will might wonder who would be able to challenge it. Only certain people are permitted to do so. For example, a cousin, neighbor or friend who is not named in the will usually cannot do so even if they have reasons to believe...

Every California resident needs an estate plan, even if they do not think that it is necessary. Despite the common misconception, estate plans are not solely for the wealthy. The need for an estate plan is even greater when someone has a health condition that may...

Many across California and the rest of the country mistakenly believe that estate plans are solely for those with a high net worth. Of course, if you have significant property and assets, an estate plan is critical to plan for the future. However, an estate plan...