Estate planning is about planning for your family — and for making sure that you, and they, are cared for at a time of incapacity or at the time of death. Estate planning can involve a will, trust, power of attorney, healthcare directive, or other documents.

California does not have an estate & gift tax, but the federal government does. What’s the difference? How do they work together?

The cost of probate involves financial expenses, time, and publicity. The financial cost is a percentage of gross assets, as set by California statute.

Emailing your “will” is unlikely to be valid in California; there are other ways to make your wishes known.