Probate: Avoiding Probate

Estate planning begins with a conversation—not a stack of documents. Before meeting with an attorney, take time to talk with your spouse or partner about what matters most to them: protecting one another, providing for each other’s children, and deciding how you want...

A corporate trustee may be worth considering when your trust calls for more time, expertise, or impartiality than a friend or family member can comfortably provide.  For example, your trust may hold a family business or real estate, support a beneficiary with special...

When your family changes, your estate plan may need to change as well.  Divorce, remarriage, or the loss of a spouse reshapes your financial responsibilities, your relationships, and the legacy you want to leave. For blended families, planning often means balancing...

"Mom Was on Medi-Cal. Does That Mean the State Can Take Her House?" When Robert’s mother passed away, his first question was not about the inheritance. It was about the house. "Mom was on Medi-Cal for years. Are we going to have to sell the house to pay the state...

A $1.5 million family home.  Three children.  One assumption: They’ll figure it out. It's one of the most common mistakes I see in estate planning. Mom’s will was simple - The house was to be divided equally among her three children. On paper, that sounds fair. But...

Your first marriage didn’t work out. Your new spouse’s first marriage didn’t work out either. But now you have found each other. You’re married – you’re happy – and everything is looking great. Have you stopped to think about what happens to each of you when one of...

Estate planning attorneys sometimes sound like they speak their own language. We’re not trying to be difficult, we just want to make sure you fully understand the process. Clearly defining the key roles in your estate plan helps you answer your attorney’s questions...