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Creating an estate plan is a crucial step in managing your assets and ensuring your wishes are respected after your passing. However, when laypeople attempt to create their own estate plans without professional guidance, they often encounter several common problems. These issues can lead to unintended consequences, including legal challenges and disputes...

In the affluent area of Walnut Creek, CA, where my office is located, estate planning takes on added significance due to the complexities of managing substantial assets. One critical aspect often overlooked is the potential impact of future divorce claims on these assets. Without proper estate planning, the division of assets in...

Estate planning is a crucial process that goes beyond deciding who inherits your assets. It's about ensuring that your assets are managed and distributed according to your wishes and in the best interest of your beneficiaries. Without a proper estate plan, the risk of assets being misused or mishandled increases significantly, leading...

Introduction:

Estate planning is an intricate process, particularly for mass affluent families. It's not just about the numbers and legal documents; it's about the people, their relationships, and their future. At the core of many estate planning challenges lies a critical issue: communication breakdowns. Misunderstandings and conflicts arising...

Introduction to Estate Planning

Estate planning: it's a phrase that might conjure up images of wealthy families in grand mansions, but it's a crucial process for everyone, regardless of the size of your estate. In the scenic city of Walnut Creek, California, estate planning takes on unique nuances...

Why You Shouldn't Want Your Family to Go Through Probate Court

Dealing with probate court can be a challenging ordeal for your family, marked by lengthy procedures, financial burdens, and emotional strain.

The Time-Consuming Nature of Probate

Probate can take...

Introduction

Estate planning, though often overshadowed by the immediate concerns of life, remains an essential component of ensuring peace of mind for oneself and security for loved ones. Delving into the landscape of estate planning can seem daunting, but with the right guidance, it's a path filled with...

When establishing your trust, you may want to protect your beneficiaries from their creditors.  For example, you may be concerned that after you die your beneficiary will assign their interest in the trust to someone else; or a creditor may try to levy your beneficiaries' interest in the trust.

Trust Administration is a process most families must undergo after the death of a parent to administer the trust estate and distribute the assets.  If you are currently the named Successor Trustee of a Trust or have been named to be the Successor Trustee in the future, here is what you need...

A common issue in second marriages or where couples are not married is what will happen to the family home on the death of the first person.  This is especially true if only one person is on title to the real property. 

There are a couple of different ways...