Estate Planning

When people think about estate planning, they usually focus on major assets such as their home, investment accounts or retirement savings. Ironically, those assets are often the easiest to divide. The greatest source of family conflict is personal property: jewelry,...

Many people create a living trust and later decide they would like to change its name. Perhaps they got married, divorced, purchased additional property or simply wanted a name that better reflects their family's legacy. The good news is that changing the name of your...

Many families today include unmarried partners, blended families and stepparents who help raise children but are not their legal parents. While these families may function like any other loving household, the law may view the situation very differently if the child's...

One of the most common questions families ask when creating an estate plan is, “Will my heirs have to pay taxes on what they inherit?” Fortunately, for most Californians, the answer is no. California does not impose a state inheritance tax or a state estate tax. In...

When a loved one passes away, families are often faced with the task of settling the decedent's affairs and transferring assets to beneficiaries. In California, this process generally occurs through either trust administration or probate. While both serve the purpose...

A reverse mortgage can be a helpful financial tool for some older homeowners, but it also creates important estate planning issues that families often do not fully understand until after death or incapacity. In California, a reverse mortgage allows homeowners who are...