Running a business often means making decisions that affect more than the present. For California business owners, choosing who will take over can shape the company’s future, employees’ jobs and the value passed to family members. A successor may be a child, business...
Creating your estate plan means being able to outline what assets will be given to which beneficiaries. While you might be focused on caring for your family members and loved ones, you may also decide that you want to take care of favorite charities. This is possible...
When family members inherit a home together, disagreements over selling or keeping the asset often arise. As more Californians inherit real estate during the administration of a loved one’s estate, co-owners may reach a stalemate. When communication about what to do...
When you achieve a reasonable amount of success in life and want to give back to your community in California, you need the right strategy for your estate plan. Choosing the correct charitable remainder trust is essential for balancing your personal financial security...
Remarrying after a divorce or the death of a spouse is a choice that often inspires a need for additional estate planning. Not only do people need to consider what support their spouses may require, but they also need to think about their children from a prior...
Often, family businesses represent years of hard work, dedication and shared family values. For many owners, protecting what they have built is just as important as growing it. As families and businesses evolve, planning for the future becomes increasingly important....
Probate disputes can stem from many different underlying issues, ranging from disagreements to outright misconduct. Families may question the validity of documents that omit certain children or grandchildren. They may question the decisions made by a personal...
If you die without an estate plan in California, the state decides how to distribute your property through a process called intestate succession. This means you lose control over who receives your assets, and your estate must go through probate court. Understanding...
Business succession plans can help to facilitate a smooth transition when important positions are vacant. Business owners may create succession plans to protect their companies. Executives may have contractual obligations that mandate that they create succession plans...
Many people feel uneasy when they hear the phrase "tax avoidance." The term is sometimes confused with tax evasion, which involves illegally concealing income or assets from taxing authorities. Estate planning, however, often includes legitimate and lawful strategies...