Estate planning may sound like the domain of the very wealthy, however, in the eyes of the law, an estate is simply the aggregate of property an individual owns, and most everyone owns something. Property ownership includes individual as well as jointly owned bank accounts, stocks and bonds, retirement accounts, real estate, jewelry, vehicles, your […]
Power of Attorney
Estate Planning During a Crisis
If you’re worried about the possibility that you or a loved one could become ill or worse due to the novel coronavirus, you’re not alone. The new spikes in cases across the country and fears of a second wave are anxiety-provoking. While none of us can predict the future, getting your affairs in order now […]
Does a Power of Attorney Ever Expire?
A Durable Power of Attorney is one of the essential legal documents that should be a part of everyone’s estate planning in order to best prepare for when life happens. Outside of how to create one, we often get asked the question of whether a Power of Attorney ever expires. Watch this short video to […]
Don’t Risk it: Protect Your Finances From Coronavirus Complications
Many Americans spend a lot of time and effort in managing their finances. While most are worried about how the coronavirus (COVID-19) will impact their income—whether that’s because they are temporarily furloughed, find themselves suddenly without a job, or watching their investment and retirement accounts dwindle — there is another way COVID-19 can wreak havoc […]
The First Steps Towards Enjoying Your Golden Years
When most of us think about retirement, we have visions of days spent relaxing, doing some traveling, getting around to those hobbies we never had time for when we were busy working and raising a family. Unfortunately, estate planning attorneys know that what are supposed to be considered the “golden years” are often filled with […]
5 Legal and Financial Moves to Make Before the Year-End
As 2019 draws to a close, it may be time to take a fresh look at your financial and legal documents to ensure that your affairs are in order and that you are ending the year on a solid foundation before the estate planning year-end. This is especially important if you’ve experienced any notable life […]
Legal Documents Every Graduating Senior Needs to Ensure Parents Can Intervene Medically on Their Behalf
Click Here To Listen to the Audio Version It’s the end of the school year and graduations are in full swing. As your “baby” steps into adulthood, you might not realize that you will soon lose the ability to help your child or make healthcare decisions (even though you may still be paying the bill!) […]
Estate Planning in California is About More Than Planning for Death
Whether you live in Orange County or somewhere else in California, many of us believe that estate planning is simply instructions on how to distribute your assets when you pass away. From that perspective, estate planning is often viewed as something one does only after they have acquired substantial assets. While one major benefit of estate […]
How to Get Your Estate Planning Done in Just 10 Minutes
Research tells us that the majority of Americans today still do not have estate planning in place and only a third of parents have properly named legal guardians for their minor children. That’s problematic because life happens to all of us and gives none of us a heads up. But our message this week is not about […]
Checking Your Estate Plan: Is It a Trick or a Treat?
When was the last time you reviewed your estate plan? Do you know if it will work when you need it to and be a treat for your loved ones to manage? Or is there a nasty trick lying in wait? Get our Estate Plan Checklist to give your plan a quick audit. It’s no […]
The Estate Planning and Conversations You and Your Spouse Need to Have
When was the last time you and your spouse discussed your estate planning? We know it is probably not on your list of “date night” conversations. In fact, many of our friends, family, and even professionals we work with tell us that once they create their estate plan, they consider it finalized and do not […]
Tips On Creating the Right Durable Power of Attorney
We know that it can be challenging to think about who will handle your assets if you become unable to do so yourself. Although this concern starts with your money, have you thought about how difficult it would be for your loved ones to make not only those important decisions on your behalf but […]
The Pitfalls of a Do-It-Yourself Estate Plan and How to Avoid Them
When the term “Do-It-Yourself” or “DIY” comes to mind, what do you think of? A weekend spent working hard on a home improvement project? An evening putting together your kid’s new bicycle? DIT projects can bring a lot of joy and pride from realizing you’ve accomplished something great on your own. On the other hand, doing […]
How to Build a Care Plan for Disability and Incapacity
Every day we make decisions. Sometimes they’re simple like choosing what to eat for lunch or what to wear. Sometimes they’re a little more complicated like deciding how to manage our hard-earned money. Big or small, these decisions have an impact on how we care for ourselves and others. Indeed, many of us have spouses, […]
Millennial Estate Planning Made Easy, Simple, and Outstanding
For most people in their 20’s and early 30’s, the topic of estate planning seems to be something for older generations to discuss. It follows the natural course that one starts to sort their affairs the closer they get to the end of their life. Of course, this assumes our lives have a definitive timeline. […]
Some Food for Thought When Reviewing Your Estate Plan
Estate planning is an ongoing process, and an estate plan review should be done every few years to ensure that your unique goals and needs are still being met. As I’ve mentioned before, your planning should never be merely a set of documents you execute once, stick on a shelf, and never look at again. […]