Can You Leave Your Property to Someone Outside Your Family in California?

California law gives individuals considerable freedom to decide who inherits their property. However, certain exceptions may apply, particularly when you are married or have children who were born or adopted after your estate plan was created….

What Is Probate in California and Why Should You Avoid It?

Yes. You can generally put a home with an existing mortgage into a revocable living trust in California without paying off the mortgage first…

4 Ways to Keep Your Home Out of Probate

Keeping a home out of probate is a key goal for many California homeowners. Compare four options; selling, joint ownership, a transfer-on-death deed, and a properly funded revocable living trust—and understand where each can leave gaps.

How Payable on Death Accounts Can Help With Estate Planning

A payable on death account, often called a POD account, allows you to name a beneficiary who receives the account after you pass away. During your lifetime, the beneficiary usually has no ownership or control over the account….

Do I Have to Pay Taxes on Money I Inherit Through Probate?

Money inherited through probate is not usually treated as taxable income to the beneficiary simply because it was inherited….

How to Avoid Probate in California and Save Time and Money

Probate is a court-supervised process used to identify a deceased person’s property, address valid debts and expenses, and transfer the remaining assets to the appropriate beneficiaries or heirs…

Does Joint Tenancy Avoid Probate 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…