Some people think that the “easy” way to avoid probate – or even just the “easy” way to be sure that their “loved ones” can access their money to care for them in the event of incapacity is to add them to their bank accounts or even their real estate. This is the wrong way…
Why Adding Your Adult Children to Your Bank Account or Real Estate is NOT the Best Way to Plan
Talking to Your Elderly Loved Ones about their Estate Plan
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??
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…
Our Unique Process to Help Clients Create their Estate Plan
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?
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…