A digital estate plan is an essential tool for managing and protecting your online assets after your death. However, if not prepared properly, it may fail to reflect your wishes accurately, leaving your digital footprint unprotected. When creating your digital estate...
Knowledgeable Advocacy For All Aspects Of Estate Administration, Trusts And Conservatorship Matters
Year: 2024
Can you disinherit your child?
It's an unfortunate situation, but in some families, the parent-child relationship reaches a point where one or both parties decide it's best to cut ties for the time being. It could be due to an addiction, lifestyle choices or a multitude of other reasons. In such a...
Can a non-family caregiver be a beneficiary in your estate plan?
Are you one of the many older Californians who rely on an in-home caregiver to help you with everyday tasks that have become increasingly hard to manage? More and more people are opting to stay in their own homes rather than move to assisted living or other care...
How could a trustee abuse their position?
A trust can be used as part of an estate plan. When doing so, a trustee is selected to distribute assets from that fund. For example, it may be an educational trust. The money is supposed to be used for college tuition and related expenses. The beneficiary doesn’t get...
Who should you pick for your medical power of attorney?
One way to make future healthcare decisions is to use a medical power of attorney. Instead of making those decisions directly – such as saying that you don’t want to be resuscitated – you instead pick an agent and give them the legal ability to make these choices on...
Do people still go to will readings?
In the past, it was very common for people to attend a will reading after someone else passed away. The attendees may include family members or others who believed they would be beneficiaries. They would go to the will reading so that an attorney could read them the...
3 characteristics of a good estate executor
One part of estate planning that’s often overlooked is determining who to name as the executor of the estate. This is the person who is going to make sure that the instructions you provided in your estate plan are followed. There are several responsibilities besides...
Disclaiming an inheritance in California
Disclaiming an inheritance in California is a legal process wherein an heir or beneficiary refuses to accept an inheritance or gift from an estate. This process can be a strategic decision for various reasons, including tax implications, creditor issues or personal...
Red flags of undue influence
As it applies to estate planning, undue influence is a type of coercion or manipulation. A beneficiary attempts to influence the way that the estate plan is written for their own financial gain. For example, one beneficiary acts as a caretaker for the elderly...
Will you inherit your parents’ mortgage?
Debt can be complicated when someone passes away. We have previously discussed the fact that many minor debts have to be paid off by the estate executor. For instance, they may need to pay property taxes or pay off credit cards. This debt is not inherited by the adult...