Estate Planning

When it comes to estate planning, privacy is a common concern for most people. Luckily, there are several options that can be used when creating your estate plan that will provide the customized planning you need to keep the nature of your assets and the identity of your beneficiaries private.  Instead of using a simple will, which becomes public during probate, it would be better to create a comprehensive estate plan that allows you to maintain the privacy you and your family want with regard … [Read more...] about Orange County Estate Planning Lawyers Can Help Keep your Plan Private

The purpose of estate planning, generally speaking, is to prepare you and your family the chance to plan ahead for both incapacity and death.  There are various useful estate planning tools that can be used for this purpose depending on your specific goals. To make the process a little simpler, our Orange County estate planning attorneys provide the following easy steps to get you started. Step 1. Create your will The last will and testament is a very important part of every estate plan, and … [Read more...] about Orange County Estate Planning Attorneys Provide 12 Easy Steps

While it is true that a will is one of the most common estate planning tools, not everyone has one. As all Los Angeles estate planning lawyers can tell you, with a will you will be able to establish exactly how they want their estate to be distributed upon their death.  Without a will, though, you will have no control over the distribution of their property.  Instead, your estate will be divided up according to the laws of intestate succession in their state. Here, your Los Angeles estate … [Read more...] about What Happens if I am Single and I Die Without a Will?

If you want your estate to be protected for your loved ones, as nearly everyone does, then you must have an estate plan. Without estate planning, your family will likely face overwhelming tax burdens, as well as other unwanted consequences. You may also be leaving many of the decisions regarding your estate to the court instead of making them yourself. But, with the help of one of our Los Angeles estate planning lawyers, you can create the perfect plan. Estate planning allows your assets go to … [Read more...] about What Happens if My Spouse and I Die at the Same Time?

Nearly everyone understands how important it is to take steps to protect the future of your loved ones. Without estate planning, your family will likely face overwhelming tax burdens and other unwanted consequences.  You may also be leaving many of the decisions regarding your estate to the court instead of making them yourself. The first step is creating a will and here are five mistakes you can avoid. What is required when creating a will? A will is a written legal document that provides … [Read more...] about Five Mistakes to Avoid When Creating a Will

If you are concerned about estate taxes and wondering how they apply to you, here are five important facts about federal estate taxes that you should know. The federal estate tax is a tax on all property that is transferred from someone who has died to their heirs.  Luckily, there is a federal estate tax exemption that means only the wealthiest estates actually pay taxes.  Here is what you need to know about estate taxes. No. 1. Only about 2 of every 1,000 estates is required to pay estate … [Read more...] about Five Facts About Federal Estate Taxes

There are different types of trusts with different benefits and goals. However, all trusts are categorized as either revocable or irrevocable. The distinction is important because, depending on the type of trust, you may or may not be able to modify its terms. When you consider revocable trust vs. irrevocable trust, here is what you need to know to decide which is best for your needs. What you should know about irrevocable trusts Irrevocable trusts are common estate planning tools that allow … [Read more...] about Revocable Trust vs. Irrevocable Trust: Which Do I Choose?

Although there are different types of wills, there are still certain standard requirements for a will be considered valid. Basically, the person creating the will must be at least the age of majority and of “sound mind,” meaning they have the legal capacity to create the will. A will should identify an executor to manage the will and handle the probate process. Each state will also have its own laws about how wills are signed and executed, including how many witnesses are required. The basics … [Read more...] about Everything You Need to Know about Wills

As of March 3rd, rescue crews postponed the search for a missing two-year-old who is believed to have died when his mother's car inexplicably swerved into the California Aqueduct in Hesperia, killing her and another child. Tragically, only of the three children in the car appears to have survived. Although a dive team searched repeatedly for the toddler Noah’s body, they were unable to find the child. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s investigators could not determine exactly why the red … [Read more...] about Fatal Crash in Hesperia Highlights Need for Estate Plan