What Happens to the Mortgage When a Co-Owner Dies?
If a California home has a mortgage, that loan usually remains secured by the property. Even if the person listed on the mortgage has died, the lender may still have the right to enforce the loan against the home if payments are not made….
Where Should You Keep Your Estate Planning Documents?
Many people sign a living trust, will, power of attorney, and health care directive, then place the documents somewhere no one knows about. Years later, when incapacity or death occurs, the family may not know where the originals are, whether signed copies exist, or who has authority to act…
Can a Non-Family Member Inherit Your Property in California?
For many California living trusts, this happens after the trust creator dies, the successor trustee gathers the assets, pays expenses, resolves taxes, and distributes the remaining property to the beneficiaries. Once the trust no longer owns property and no further duties remain, the trust has effectively served its purpose….
Can a California Trustee Live in Another State?
Children who inherit real estate from their parents in California usually do not pay income tax, inheritance tax, or capital gains tax merely because they received the property….
Do Children Pay Taxes on Property They Inherit From Parents?
Children who inherit real estate from their parents in California usually do not pay income tax, inheritance tax, or capital gains tax merely because they received the property….
Does a Surviving Spouse Automatically Inherit Everything?
Money inherited through probate is not usually treated as taxable income to the beneficiary simply because it was inherited….
What Is a Letter of Instruction and Should I Write One?
Life insurance can be one of the most practical tools in an estate plan because it creates money at the moment a family may need it most…
Why Life Insurance Is an Important Part of an Estate Plan
Life insurance can be one of the most practical tools in an estate plan because it creates money at the moment a family may need it most…
Why Estate Planning Is Essential for Young Families
An estate plan can determine who should care for a child, who should manage the child’s inheritance, how family expenses should be paid, and who can make financial or medical decisions if a parent becomes incapacitated…
How Divorce Affects Your Estate Plan in California
Unfortunately, some families wait until a loved one is facing their final days before beginning the process. What could have been a straightforward planning experience suddenly becomes a race against time, creating stress for the family, legal challenges for the attorney, and uncertainty for everyone involved…