Bay Area Estate And Tax Planning Law Firm
Once you draft an estate plan, it is important to remember that you do have the ability to modify the plan. Many people suggest reviewing your plan every 3 to 5 years. This gives you a chance to check for any potential updates that are necessary. In other words,...
We spend much of our lives online, often without thinking about what happens to those accounts later. From photos and messages to financial tools, our digital presence can sometimes be just as important as our physical belongings. It’s easy to assume everything will...
Serving as a trustee is a major legal responsibility. Under the California Probate Code, a trustee must manage trust property carefully. The trustee must follow the trust's instructions and California law when distributing assets. Many trustees are family members who...
Most people fully fund trusts when they initially create them. They promptly transfer financial accounts, real property and other valuable resources to the trust as funding. The trust then owns and controls those resources, giving the trustor protection and increased...
With age often comes gradual physical decline that reduces strength and flexibility. For some people, advanced age may also result in cognitive decline. They may struggle with memory and decision-making. Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia can leave people...
Being appointed as a fiduciary of someone’s estate, whether it's as an executor, administrator or trustee, is a position of significant responsibility. You are required to act with loyalty, care and impartiality. In addition, you are also held to strict legal...
Estate administration in California is usually a predictable process. In some cases, there is a will in place clearly outlining who should inherit from the estate and what property they should receive. Even if a person dies without a will, intestate succession laws...
Creating your estate plan is a way that you can let your loved ones know what you want to do with your assets after you pass away. These plans can have many components, including the will and trusts, both of which can stipulate who receives which assets. While it’s...
When someone serves as a trustee in California, they assume a serious legal duty known as a fiduciary duty. Under California law, a trustee must manage assets with the care and skill of a prudent person. That means the trustee should act carefully and make thoughtful...
Most adults know that they should have an estate plan in place, but just creating it likely isn’t the end of what has to be done. Speaking to your loved ones about the estate plan is another step that you may need to take after you create the plan. Conversations...