Charitable Remainder Trusts: Can They Work for you
Often in estate planning, families will have two goals that can seem difficult to rectify. First, they want to ensure that they can use the money that they have acquired over their lifetime to do good for others. This may mean donating to a school they attended, a...
Understanding the CA Probate Process
In the state of California, there are a few different ways to settle an estate. The one that will be right for your family’s needs depends on the value of the deceased person’s estate, and whether or not some assets don’t need to go through probate at all....
10 Estate Planning Documents You Could Be Missing
If you find preparing for the end of your life distasteful, you’re certainly not alone. While most people know that they need an estate plan, only 40 percent of Americans have actually sat down and made one, according to the AARP. While 81 percent of the Greatest...
The Importance of Checking Your Beneficiary Designations in Life Insurance and Retirement Accounts
Life insurance and 401ks are some of the best means of making sure that your spouse and other loved ones are provided for in the event that you pass away. They’re also something you need to keep on top of as you go through major life changes. Chances are, you...
The Importance of Naming a Guardian for Minor Children
No one likes to think about his or her own death. The notion is even harder to swallow when you have small children. The idea of not being around to raise your offspring and watch them grow is enough to make many people put off necessary estate planning....
Why Does Probate Take So Long?
If you’ve started diving into estate planning, chances are you’ve heard horror stories about how long probate takes. Unfortunately, many of these stories are true. Why is the probate process so time consuming? There are a number of factors that can serve to cause...
5 Items Families Commonly Fight Over in Probate
The loss of a loved one is often an unbearably sad and stressful time. Between making funeral arrangements and dealing with the distribution of the estate, the weeks and months that follow can feel overwhelming. The grieving period is only made worse when family...