Many people in California own second homes that they and their families use for vacations. When thinking about how a person's estate and assets will be handled, it is often a good idea to think about how the second home will be handled as well. When a person has...
Do I need a probate attorney?
Year: 2014
Powers of attorney
An important consideration for many people in California who are planning how to handle their affairs is whether or not to have a power of attorney in place. In the event that you are incapacitated due to age, illness or an accident, a health care power of attorney...
Situations that may prompt a will change
California residents may have estate plans in place, but it is important to consider changing a will if certain life events occur. It may be easy to overlook such a need due to the activity surrounding some of those events. However, failing to change the conditions in...
How to choose the right trust
California residents who are interested in planning an estate may have questions about incorporating a trust into their preparations. Knowing what trusts are available and which ones work best in certain circumstances makes the choice easier. The first priority is...
What is a living will and do I need one?
In a time in which medical and scientific advances have progressed to a degree in which those near death and incapacitated in California can have their lives artificially sustained for long periods of time, living wills can be an important tool to have in place. Many...
Mistakes people make during estate planning
Many California men and women know and understand the importance of keeping designations on beneficiary documents up to date. These documents allow a person to designate who gets certain property or assets. However, there are many mistakes that can be made that limit...
Understanding the different powers of attorney
California residents have a variety of tools at their disposal when it comes to estate planning. Some of these tools involve granting individuals or entities powers of attorney. The three main powers of attorney are the health care power of attorney, HIPPA power of...
How the IRS defines charitable trusts
California residents who wish to donate their estate to a charity may be interested in learning how a charitable trust works and how it may benefit them. Charitable trusts, as outlined in the Internal Revenue Code, are non-exempt trusts exclusively made for charitable...
Wills may be challenged during probate
As some California residents may know, there are times when a will is challenged. The petitioner's reason for doing this is filed in probate court and served on a personal representative or other individuals who may answer the objection to the will within a predefined...
The beginning of the legal guardian process in California
Those who wish to become the guardian of a child in California must go through a process that includes many steps. When ready to apply for guardianship, one must read the Guardianship Pamphlet and fill out a number of forms first. These forms might include the...
