If you are ready to start the estate planning process, you probably want to know how you can make sure that your money remains in the family and with those you love. According to U.S. News, the best way to ensure that the money goes where you want it to, you need a...

You probably already know that having an estate plan is vital to protect your family after you are gone. However, you might not know all the documents required to make up a valid and legally binding plan. According to AARP, there are five essential documents all...

An elderly relative may express an intent to leave his or her assets and property to a specific individual. As noted on the Judicial Council of California website, without a signed will the estate passes on to the deceased's lawful heirs instead. The probate court may...

A holographic will is a last will and testament that is written in the testator's own handwriting. A will bearing the testator's handwriting in the blank spaces of a pre-printed form is also a holographic will. This kind of document is valid in California, and the...

Your legacy includes non-financial assets such as personal values, beliefs and skills developed during your lifetime. If you wish for your estate to continue carrying out your mission, you may include philanthropy in your will or trust. As noted by Kiplinger's...

Reviewing your estate plan may feel like an enormous task. Unfortunately, many people put it off for this exact reason. But there are ways you can make the review process easier on you while simultaneously checking everything essential. You can do this by...

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...

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...

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...