What Happens to Social Security Benefits When Someone Dies? Rumors once swirled that millions of deceased people were still receiving Social Security payments. The truth? That was mostly a misunderstanding caused by a software glitch that mislabels some people as being over 150 years old. These folks aren’t getting paid—they just have…
New California Law Simplifies Probate for Homes Under $750,000 – What You Need to Know Beginning April 1, 2025, California’s probate system will offer a simpler, more efficient way to transfer a loved one’s primary residence—provided the home is valued under $750,000. Thanks to Assembly Bill 2016 (AB 2016), families may be able to…
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…
