Archive for March 2021
Is Equal is Equitable for Children Beneficiaries?
When it comes to deciding how to leave property to your children, the clearest choice is to divide everything into equal shares. That is the straightforward choice when all your beneficiaries are doing equally well. But what if not? – if, for example, your son is a starving artist with mouths to feed and your…
Read MoreUnderstanding Estate Planning and Your Personal Property in California
Suppose that your estate plan is all set. It will be taking care of your home, savings, and investments, making sure that your family will get those valuable estate items fairly and efficiently. Your plan will also protect your legacy from your children’s potential divorces or bankruptcies. What could go wrong? Plenty, unfortunately, when it…
Read MoreUnderstanding How to Leave Property to Children in a Will or Trust
I read that when making a revocable living trust, I could leave my property to my children “per stirpes.” Why is the law talking about us like we’re some kind of zebra? The phrase is Latin and it is “per stirpes,” not “per stripes.” Some bits of property law are extremely ancient in origin (and…
Read MoreStillness is the Key
As one of our clients likes to remind us, “the world spins so fast!” It’s true that life moves so quickly that it oftentimes feels we are barely keeping up, if at all. If you feel this way, you are not alone. In addition to drowning in overwhelm, there is another growing problem: not having any time to…
Read MorePassing on Family Values as Part of an Inheritance
Successfully addressing and legally formalizing the inheritance of family values and assets can be challenging, especially if parents wait too long to begin instilling family values. Undoubtedly the best time to teach and empower your children as eventual inheritors of your family legacy is during childhood, then continuing throughout adulthood. Waiting until your later stages…
Read MoreDoes Your California Estate Plan Cover a Pandemic?
On February 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) gave name to the disease-causing the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic. The coronavirus disease 2019 shortly after became known by its abbreviation, CO for corona, VI for the virus, D for disease, and 19 for the year of the outbreak; COVID-19. This virus will likely become a…
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