A power of attorney gives another person the right to make decisions for you. The person with this power is an agent. The agent is an incredibly important person because he or she has a lot of influence and ability in your life. You need to take the task of choosing...
What decisions can an advance directive cover?
When creating your estate plan, it is important to include documents that not only cover what happens after your death but also your end-of-life plans. You may end up in a situation where you need care but cannot make decisions for yourself. Luckily, there are legal...
How do you empower your power of attorney document?
Even if you already have a power of attorney for your estate, time and changing laws may render the document powerless. How do you keep this from happening? Forbes shares tips for making sure your power of attorney remains effective over the years. Use these insights...
Is a handwritten will legal?
A last will and testament can be composed in different forms. It may be created as a printed form. Some wills, if spoken orally, can be recognized by a California court as legal. There are also wills that are completely handwritten by the testor. These handwritten...
Does your estate plan address digital assets?
When you think of estate planning, you might think of writing a will to determine who gets someone’s house or vacation property. However, it is important to remember the intangible aspects of your life that may be overlooked in your estate plan.What to do with...
Revocable and irrevocable trusts: What’s the difference?
Most high-asset couples already have a will in place, and several in California also have living trusts completed so that they can avoid the probate process, transferring assets sooner with smaller legal fees. If you haven’t set up a living trust, or know...
Challenging a will because of mental incapacity
As our parents and beloved family members age, it’s difficult to see their mental capacity decline. This can be problematic if the will was created or altered when the estate holder or testator was of diminished capacity. It can call the will into question, and...
Spendthrift trusts can allow for responsible financial habits
Many families across California can identify with having children, grandchildren or other beneficiaries that failed to inherit the same diligent savings habits as their parents or grandparents. As you plan your estate, you may worry about how these loved ones may cope...
What are the legal grounds for challenging a will?
Challenging the validity of a will is not an action to take lightly. The process will likely be emotional, expensive and difficult to win. However, challenging the validity of a will can be the most appropriate action in certain circumstances, and can result in part...
What to Watch Out for If There’s a Sudden Death in Your Family
Did you know that Anthony Bourdain's will revealed that the celebrity chef and author had an estate of only $1.21 million? Estimates of the TV star's worth had been around $16 million, which made the revelations from his will even more startling. This is an example of...
