Probate court is often a tedious and expensive process that can take a long time to complete. Thankfully, you can avoid probate court with proper estate planning. Transfer-on-death deeds and registration A transfer-on-death form names a specific beneficiary who...
San Jose Estate Law Blog
4 common estate planning mistakes that are easy to avoid
There are several estate planning tools to consider and you can tailor their use to your particular circumstances. You want to be as thorough as possible when you put your estate plan together. Here are four common mistakes for you to avoid. 1. Lacking liquidity If...
How do trusts improve the lives of adults with Down Syndrome?
If you have a child who has Down Syndrome, you may have some valid concerns about his or her ability to work in the future. Not being able to find gainful employment, of course, may make it virtually impossible for the young one in your family to pay living expenses...
Can you remove the executor of an estate?
An executor is responsible for many important duties in managing and distributing an estate. Failure to carry out those duties could potentially result in severe financial harm to an estate’s beneficiaries. In limited circumstances, an interested party can take action...
What is the importance of an agent for a power of attorney?
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...
Is it time to update your estate plan?
Too often, people fall into the trap of crafting a comprehensive estate plan and then leaving it locked away in their safe deposit boxes for years and decades to come. In fact, individuals should review and revise this set of documents at regular intervals to ensure...
Understanding estate tax portability
The deeper people in California get into the estate planning process, the more they recognize that there are a number of opportunities available to them to avoid certain expenses and retain assets for their beneficiaries. Examples of this include making plans to avoid...
What should you know about DIY wills?
It is crucial to have an estate plan ready in the event of your death, and a will plays an important role in it. But despite this, statistics show that the majority of Americans do not have any will or advanced directive. Instead, more people turn to the modern...
Who should you choose for your power of attorney?
While many people do not like to think about what could happen should they become unable to make decisions for themselves, having a power of attorney is an essential part of good estate planning. Without proper documentation in place, you could run the risk of losing...