You’ve likely heard of HIPAA if you’ve been to the doctor’s office but you may not know how important it is to your California estate plan. This helps determine who can access you medical information in moments where you need it the most. Without the HIPAA release, people that need access to your medical information…
When a loved one passes away, grief is difficult enough. Families do not want to go through a long and public court process to access the assets that their relative worked hard to accumulate. However, this is exactly what probate requires. In a community like Granite Bay, where property values are high and estates can…
Most people have heard of the power of attorney, but few are familiar with springing power of attorneys – a distinct variation that combines personal autonomy and protective planning. If you are creating an estate plan in California and wish to control when and how your authority will be transferred to another person, it is…
Serving as a trustee can be a big responsibility. If you are a trustee and want to know your responsibilities, or have questions about a trustee on a trust you benefit from, knowing this information can be critical. Trustees have specific duties and responsibilities under California law. Not following through on them can lead to…
Yes, a trustee can also be a beneficiary in a California trust. In fact, its pretty common to do it that way. Families rely on this structure to name someone they trust to both handle the trust and benefit it. For many trusts, it is exactly the point that the trustee is also the beneficiary,…
A pretermitted child is a child that was accidentally left out of a parent’s will, or their trust. These children have a right to claim part of the estate, even if the valid estate plan leaves them out of it by accident. This often comes up in the case of divorce or more complicated family…
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…
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…
