Owning a business in California can make estate planning more involved. When a business is part of your estate, questions about value, control and succession often come up more than with personal property. Planning ahead may help protect both the business and your...
When a person passes away, their estate is managed according to the last wishes left in their will. But what happens when someone passes away without a will? Dying without a will is called intestacy. Intestacy can create a lot of difficulties for loved ones after a...
Welcoming a grandchild into your life is one of the most exciting milestones you can experience. Along with this joy, many grandparents begin thinking about how to secure a bright future for their growing family. This post outlines how an estate plan can help you meet...
If you decide to disinherit someone, it means you are removing them from your estate plan. In some cases, this person may be a direct relative, such as an adult child who would ordinarily inherit assets unless your estate plan specifically says that they should not....
It’s not unusual after someone dies for loved ones to end up fighting over things that the deceased person never thought about, rather than the home, investment and retirement accounts and other high-value assets. That’s largely because people are more likely to...
A will is a key document in an estate plan. A will allows a testator to decide how their estate is managed after they pass away. If a person passes away without writing a valid will, then they are said to have died intestate. Intestacy can create many problems for...
Without an estate plan, California courts will decide what happens to your children and your assets. This fact usually motivates people to act, yet you might still find yourself delaying the process without proper guidance on how to start. Thankfully, being properly...
People who are creating an estate plan must ensure that everything in the plan reflects their wishes. One of the challenges that comes with doing this is balancing those wishes with the most effective ways to get those assets to the beneficiaries. In some cases,...
Large estates that contain millions of dollars’ worth of assets are potentially subject to major tax obligations. Once the total value of the estate reaches $13.99 million, as of 2025, the estate may be responsible for federal estate taxes. The federal estate tax is a...
A family limited partnership (FLP) can be a valuable tool for families who own assets or a business together. When set up the right way, it helps protect your family's wealth and makes it easier to pass things on to the next generation. While FLPs can sometimes help...