Creating a Last Will and Testament is a vital part of comprehensive estate planning. Because life rarely stays the same for long, however, your Will could become outdated quickly if you fail to review and revise it as needed. Marriage, divorce, the birth of a child, or the loss of a loved one can all make the terms of your existing Will outdated. Moreover, as your personal and financial circumstances change, your estate plan must evolve as well. Failing to keep your Will current can lead to … [Read more...] about How Do I Modify My California Will?
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5 Benefits of Including Charitable Giving in Your California Estate Plan
For many people, supporting charitable causes is more than a financial decision. It is a reflection of deeply held values and beliefs. If philanthropy has played a meaningful role in your life, you may wish to ensure that your generosity continues long after you are gone. Including charitable giving as part of your estate plan allows you to make a lasting impact while also providing valuable financial and tax benefits for you and your loved ones. Toward that end, the Los Angeles attorneys at … [Read more...] about 5 Benefits of Including Charitable Giving in Your California Estate Plan
How to Choose the Right Nursing Home in California
When an aging loved one can no longer live safely on their own, moving them to a nursing home may become a necessary step. Making this decision can be both emotional and complex, as you want to find a facility that provides compassionate care, prioritizes safety, promotes dignity, and is within your financial means. This can seem like an impossible task to undertake, especially at a time when your emotions are likely to run high as well. To help get you started, the Los Angeles attorneys at … [Read more...] about How to Choose the Right Nursing Home in California
What Is Involved in Contesting a Will in California?
Losing someone close to you is an emotionally difficult experience that often brings legal matters to the forefront. When a person passes away leaving a Last Will and Testament, the document must be submitted to the probate court for validation. If you suspect that the Will does not reflect the true intentions of the decedent or was improperly created, you may have the right to challenge it. The process of contesting a Will in California can be both complicated and emotionally charged. To help … [Read more...] about What Is Involved in Contesting a Will in California?
Gifting Mistakes That Could Undermine Your Estate Plan in California
Giving during your lifetime can be a meaningful way to share your success, support family members, or contribute to causes you care about. Whether you help an adult child purchase a home, pay for a grandchild’s college tuition, or fund a charitable foundation, thoughtful gifting can be an important part of your legacy. Yet, when gifts are made without professional guidance or coordination with your overall estate plan, the consequences can be costly. Improper valuations, tax surprises, or … [Read more...] about Gifting Mistakes That Could Undermine Your Estate Plan in California
Including Digital Assets in Your California Estate Plan
When creating an estate plan, most people think of physical possessions, such as homes, cars, financial accounts, and personal items. In the modern age, however, many assets exist entirely in digital form. From your email and online banking to cryptocurrency and social media, these assets can hold both financial and emotional value. Without proper planning, your loved ones could struggle to access important accounts or lose treasured memories that are stored online. To help prevent that outcome, … [Read more...] about Including Digital Assets in Your California Estate Plan
Who Will Make Healthcare Decision for You If You Are Incapacitated?
A comprehensive estate plan does more than distribute your assets after death. It also safeguards your well-being while you are alive by ensuring that your wishes are respected if you are unable to make or communicate decisions because you are incapacitated. Planning for the very real possibility of your own incapacity should be an integral part of your comprehensive estate plan. Using specific legal documents within your incapacity planning component, you can clearly state your medical … [Read more...] about Who Will Make Healthcare Decision for You If You Are Incapacitated?
Fall Summit 2025: Accountability in Action
The best Estate Planners know that staying current on the latest trends and developments is essential to serving their clients with excellence. That’s why the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys hosts its semi-annual conference, providing education and learning for and inspiring excellence in its Members. Read on to learn more about the unique experience at the conference. … [Read more...] about Fall Summit 2025: Accountability in Action
Should Married Couples Execute Separate Wills?
A Last Will and Testament is one of the most recognizable legal tools in estate planning, acting as a binding document that explains how your property and affairs should be managed after you pass away. Most people rely on a Will to make sure their assets are transferred properly, and their chosen heirs receive what they are entitled to inherit. Married couples often rely on “joint” or “reciprocal” Wills, naming each other as beneficiaries relying on the surviving spouse to distribute the … [Read more...] about Should Married Couples Execute Separate Wills?
How Does the OBBBA Impact ABLE Accounts?
On July 4, 2025, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)” was signed into law, making important changes to many of the tax transfer laws in the U.S. Provisions of the OBBBA also impact ABLE accounts which are frequently found in a special needs planning component of a comprehensive estate plan. To help ensure that your plan is up to date and your special needs beneficiaries ae protected, the Los Angeles attorneys at Schomer Law Group, APC explain how the OBBBA impacts ABLE accounts. What Is … [Read more...] about How Does the OBBBA Impact ABLE Accounts?
