Located near the shores of Folsom Lake, Granite Bay is known for its exceptional quality of life, with exclusive neighborhoods such as Los Lagos and Wexford, as well as a thriving community of entrepreneurs, executives, and retirees. For residents who have built significant wealth over a lifetime, preserving that success requires more than just a…
Sun City Lincoln Hills is one of the most popular 55+ active adult communities in Northern California. Located in Placer County, it offers 3,200 acres with walking trails, golf courses, and resort-style amenities that attract retirees who have built meaningful lives and estates over decades. However, the vibrant activities inside these gates can sometimes obscure…
A Heggstad petition is a very powerful tool in trust and estate administration. This allows families to avoid probate if a particular asset was meant to be in a living trust, but was never transferred to it because the trust creator passed away. The Heggstad petition asks the court to confirm that the asset is…
When someone with a trust passes away in California, the trust keeps assets out of probate. That’s part of the reason why people create one in the first place. But what happens to the trust after you pass? A revocable trust may become irrevocable, and a successor trustee is going to take over. Understanding how…
Putting real estate into a trust is an excellent way to avoid California probate and protect your valuable assets. It smooths the transition to your beneficiaries after you pass and is an integral part of your estate plan. The trust must be properly formed and funded, but an attorney can help you understand how to…
A durable power of attorney is an incredibly useful tool in your estate planning toolbox. It let’s you appoint someone you trust to handle your financial and legal matters if you become unable to do so yourself. This helps you preplan for temporary or permanent incapacity, either through an accident or age-related mental illness. It…
A bypass trust is a very useful tool to help protect married couples and reduce their estate taxes. It can also help protect other assets for your future generations. Also called a credit shelter trust or AB trust, they help bypass over taxation of your estate, as explained more below. An experienced lawyer can help…
Making sure you have a valid will is very important. California recognizes several types of wills, but each has its own requirements you have to follow for it to be valid. Messing up any aspect of a will could mean it’s unenforceable. This is not a result you want to risk. With the right legal…
In Rocklin and Roseville, we see the same scene play out over and over. A parent passes away. The family gathers, grieving and exhausted. Someone says, “Okay… so who’s the executor?” Someone else says, “It’s a trust, so there’s no executor.” Then the real confusion begins: “Wait—am I the trustee or the beneficiary?” “If I’m…
A trust allows you to bypass California probate in many cases. This can save you months of time and thousands in fees. Your trust can distribute your assets the way you really want, all without court supervision. It offers you flexibility during your lifetime and protects your assets after you are gone. At Filippi Law…
