Can I Appoint a Guardian Who Lives Outside the United States? When planning for the care of your child in the event of your passing, you may wonder if you can appoint a guardian who lives in another country. In California, the answer is yes—but the process involves specific legal…
Estate Planning: Don’t Leave Your Legacy to Luck This St. Patrick’s Day St. Patrick’s Day is all about luck—the four-leaf clovers, pots of gold, and the elusive leprechauns. But when it comes to estate planning, luck isn’t a strategy. While we can all hope for good fortune in life, a well-crafted estate…
Trust Administration’s Cold Case: What If a Beneficiary Goes Missing? A trust is designed to ensure that your assets reach the right hands, but what happens when a key player in this mystery—your beneficiary—vanishes without a trace? Imagine your trustee as a seasoned detective, magnifying glass in hand, sifting through…
Should You Sell, Gift, or Keep Your Home Until Death? A Guide to Making the Right Decision If you’re a homeowner in California, you’ve likely wondered about the best way to pass your property to your loved ones. Should you sell it during your lifetime, gift it now, or hold onto it until death? Each option has tax and financial implications that could impact both you and your heirs. Here’s what you need to know. The Step-Up in Basis: A Key Advantage of Keeping Property Until Death In…
Ensure Your Property Insurance Is Updated After a Title Transfer Transferring real estate into a trust or business entity is a common estate planning strategy to protect assets and avoid probate. However, these transfers can unintentionally impact insurance coverage, leaving homeowners vulnerable if not properly addressed. With the recent Los Angeles wildfires, ensuring adequate…
