Trusts
The Duties of an Estate Executor in CA
How Does One Become An “Executor?” An executor, also known as a personal representative, is a person appointed by a court to manage the distribution of assets and payment of debts of a deceased person’s estate. In California, the duties of an executor are governed by the Probate Code, which outlines the responsibilities and powers…
Read MoreWhat is the difference between an irrevocable trust and a revocable trust?
When you create an estate plan, you have the option to include a revocable trust. Also known as a living trust, this document allows you to choose how your assets are distributed upon death. You can retain control of the trust while you are alive and even make changes if you wish. A revocable trust…
Read MoreRetirement Accounts and Estate Planning
For many Americans, retirement accounts comprise a substantial portion of their wealth. When planning your estate, it is important to consider the ramifications of tax-deferred retirement accounts, such as 401(k) and 403(b) accounts and traditional IRAs. (Roth IRAs are not tax-deferred accounts and are therefore treated differently). One of the primary goals of any estate…
Read MoreChanging Uses for Bypass Trusts
Every year, each individual who dies in the U.S. can leave a certain amount of money to his or her heirs before facing any federal estate taxes. For example, in 2013, a person who died could leave $5.25 million to his or her heirs (or a charity) estate tax free, and everything over that amount…
Read MoreChanging Beneficiaries in a Revocable Trust After Death
Q: My mother’s Revocable Trust states that her estate must be divided between her four adult children. She has now died, and each should receive about $150,000. The problem is one of my brothers is now disabled and is receiving SSI and Medi-Cal. If he receives this inheritance, it will disqualify him from his benefits…
Read MoreThe Best Time to Think About the End of Your Life
I received a very disturbing telephone call yesterday, which inspired today’s blog post. A woman whose brother lay dying in the hospital called to ask a few questions about what would happen to his estate after he died. She said he had a Will, in which he left everything to his children, and provided nothing…
Read MoreFour Key Elements in California Estate Planning
When potential clients begin to discuss estate planning, we attorneys often hear similar concerns repeatedly. They do not want to burden family members who may provide care, especially in a serious illness. They do not want the government to control their real estate or personal property when they die. They want to make sure the…
Read More5 Benefits of a Living Trust in California
Are you looking for ways to maximize your estate planning and ensure that you have a comprehensive plan in place? Plenty of people in California turn to the benefits provided by a living trust to accomplish these goals. A living trust attorney can help you decide how to start your living trust and give you…
Read More5 Benefits of a Revocable Living Trust in California
Are you interested in using estate planning tools to accomplish your personal goals and make the transfer of property to your loved ones as easy as possible? A revocable living trust can achieve multiple things at once; for that reason, it is a popular estate planning tool. Proper estate planning calls on you to hire…
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