It’s critical that blended families create an estate plan that will ensure both spouses and all children are cared for in a way that both spouses envision.

When someone dies, there are certainly legal processes that need to happen; but the most important thing is to grieve and take care of yourself before you call your attorney.

Why do you need a trust in California?

Which state law does your estate plan use?

Who should I pick as my trustee? Or successor trustee? There are some things you should consider when deciding.

Portability involves using a deceased spouse’s estate tax exclusion; there are important deadlines that have recently changed.

What is common law marriage? Well, California doesn’t recognize common law marriage. There are requirements to be considered married.

After you have a trust, you’ll need to make sure you transfer your assets into the trust.

Probate fees are about what it costs to go to court. This is going to vary depending on why you are going to court. Here are the costs if someone dies and you’re in probate court.

How to disinherit someone (exclude them) is important. There are key ways to do that; talk to your attorney.

Even if you have a trust in California, you still need a will. The will has a different job than the trust in this context.

How you compensate your executor or successor trustee is part of your estate plan.

How does your family get access to your email or other digital accounts? You have to give it to them, in advance, before they need it.

Estate planning is important to avoid cost, time, and headaches involved if you don’t plan!

A trust is a way of holding, maintaining, and distributing assets. What does that really mean?

You should regularly review your estate plan, but when? How often is it important to do that?

How should you go about finding an estate planning attorney?

What does it mean to “put assets into a trust”?

Why do married couples need to do an estate plan?