How a Joint Account Can Save Your Family from Probate (and When It Can’t)
When someone passes away, their assets including homes, bank accounts, and investments don’t automatically transfer to loved ones. In California, if those assets are titled only in the deceased person’s name, they typically must go through probate, a court-supervised process that can be lengthy, expensive, and public.
Blended Family Estate Planning Horror Story: How One Couple Lost Everything
As you may know, over half of all first marriages end in divorce. About 60% of second marriages end in divorce, 70% of third marriages, and well the pattern continues. With remarriages come new relationships, new children, stepchildren, and new financial dynamics. That’s what we call a blended family and while these families can be full of love and connection, they also come with unique estate planning challenges.
How to Keep Your Estate Plan Safe
You’ve spent time, thought, and resources creating an estate plan that protects your family and assets, but have you thought about how to keep that plan safe?
What Does a Complete Estate Plan Include?
One of the questions I hear most often is, “What does a complete estate plan actually include?” It’s a great question because most people think an estate plan is just a will.
How to Add a Home with a Mortgage to a Living Trust Without Refinancing
For many California homeowners, transferring a home into a revocable living trust is one of the most important steps in protecting family assets, avoiding probate, and ensuring your property passes smoothly to your loved ones…
Did You Know It Costs $46,000 to Get a $1 Million Home Through California Probate?
If you think probate is just a small court process after someone passes away, think again. In California, probating a $1 million home costs around $46,000 in legal…
How Much Does Estate Planning Cost in California?
When families create a living trust in California, one of the first questions that comes up is whether the trust should have its own bank account. The answer depends on how your trust is set up, but in most cases…
Does Your Living Trust Need Its Own Bank Account?
When families create a living trust in California, one of the first questions that comes up is whether the trust should have its own bank account. The answer depends on how your trust is set up, but in most cases…
Top 5 Reasons Californians Still End Up in Probate (and How to Avoid It)
Probate can be one of the most stressful and time-consuming parts of settling an estate. In California, the court process can easily take a year or more, freezing access to assets and creating added costs, paperwork, and emotional strain for families who are already grieving.
The Three Essential Estate Planning Documents Every Adult Over 18 Needs
Discover the three key documents every California adult needs to protect their future and legacy.