As an estate planning attorney I am frequently asked how to go about approaching the subject of estate planning with elderly parents. This can be a tough conversation but it is certainly an important and valuable one to have, for both generations. The following is a list of typical questions to begin the dialogue: •…
What causes a person’s estate to go through Probate??
March 16, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Probate in California happens when the following facts are in alignment: #1 – a person died #2 – they were over 18 #3 – they owned assets – house, car, bank accounts, cds, stock, bonds, etc – any one of these or any combination of these #4 – the assets they did own were in…
Final Wishes – Who Will Make Your Funeral Arrangements?
January 2, 2013 By 2 Comments
Originally written in November 2010 Just received a call from a long time client who is the Conservator for his Mom – she just passed away and now the mortuary he wants to have do her final arrangements is stating they need ALL of her children to agree on what is to be done. Under…
Healthcare Agents and Medical Decisions
December 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Originally written in September 2010 I encourage all of my clients to consider signing a healthcare power of attorney. This document gives broad powers to someone you trust, such as a spouse, sibling, or close friend, to make healthcare decisions on your behalf if you are ever unable to make such decisions for yourself. However,…
Our Unique Process to Help Clients Create their Estate Plan
October 1, 2012 By 1 Comment
In our office we have a fairly well defined process for helping clients create their estate plan. We constantly review this process & our systems to improve the experience for our clients and to insure that we are delivering state of the art legal assistance. When a prospective client calls they will speak with my…
What Happens When a Person Dies Without a Will or a Trust? What is intestate?
January 26, 2012 By
When you pass away, who will inherit your assets/your estate is dependent on a number of factors. One of the most important factors is how your assets are titled. If the asset was in a trust – it will be controlled by the terms of that trust. If the asset was held jointly with another…
