If I had a dollar for every time someone asked this question when creating an estate plan… well, you get the point. There’s a common belief that if you want to disinherit an heir, say an adult child, that you should leave them $1 and nothing more in your will or trust. The thought is […]
Wills and Trusts
Why a Last Will and Testament Does Not Make a Complete Estate Plan
While the Last Will and Testament is an important estate planning tool, Orange County trust and estates lawyers want clients to be aware that there are certain things it won’t accomplish. To start, a Last Will and Testament will only come into effect after you’ve passed away, which means that it cannot be used to […]
Estate Planning Tips for Single Parents
As a single parent, it is critically important to have a comprehensive estate plan that protects your child(ren). Obviously, being the sole or primary caregiver doesn’t leave you with much time on your hands. However, putting some time aside to meet with an estate planning attorney can give you some peace of mind. By having […]
Estate Planning and COVID-19: Planning Ahead for a Long-Term Crisis
If you’re concerned that you or a loved one could become seriously ill or even worse due to the novel coronavirus, you’re not alone. As medical experts predict a more violent return of the virus in the fall or that new spikes could occur in states as social distancing is gradually relaxed, it’s important to […]
Wills vs Trusts – Which Do You Need in Orange County?
Planning your estate with a wills and trusts attorney in Orange County is an important step in protecting your assets, your wishes, and the people that matter to you the most. There are a number of options available, as any estate planning lawyer can tell you. Do you need a will? A trust? Is it possible […]
Irvine Will and Trust Lawyer: 5 Essentials of Estate Planning
Estate planning isn’t just for older people, couples with children, or individuals with a lot of financial wealth. Single people, young adults, and those with a modest income can also benefit from estate planning. As an Irvine will and trust lawyer, I believe there are five essential items that should be considered by every adult, […]
Irvine Will and Trust Lawyer: Avoid These 3 Common Trust Mistakes!
If you’ve set up a Revocable Living Trust, congratulations! As an Irvine will and trust lawyer, I assure you that you’ve taken a very important step in protecting your assets and your family in the event you become incapacitated or pass away. However, just because you’ve completed this important step does not mean that you […]
Your Fall “Legal Affairs” Checklist from an Orange County Estate Planning Attorney
With the fall season approaching, it’s an excellent time to review your affairs. Below is a fall legal affairs estate planning checklist to ensure your planning meets your needs and is up-to-date: 1) When was your power of attorney last updated? A power of attorney is a valuable legal document, no matter what the circumstance. […]
A Post-Honeymoon Legal Checklist for Orange County Newlyweds
Your wedding is over, and the day was absolutely perfect. You went away on your honeymoon with your new spouse and had the time of your lives. Now you are back and can breathe a sigh of relief and watch the rest of the years ahead unfold before your eyes. Well, not so fast. Now […]
How to “Marie Kondo” Your Financial Life and Streamline Your Estate Planning Process
Listen to the Audio Version If you’re not familiar with Marie Kondo, take some time this week to watch one of her videos on YouTube or check out her new Netflix series, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. It’s incredible to watch the relief and joy that people experience just by implementing her simple strategies to […]
How Do I Talk to My Elderly Parents About Money Management?
While it may seem straightforward at first, there are a lot of details and difficulties that can get in the way of having the conversation with your aging or elderly parents. There are so many things to coordinate, and often the parent is less than helpful in the process. In this video, Kevin Snyder covers […]
Approaching the Conversation of Money Management With an Elderly Parent
Click to Listen to the Audio Version Estate Planning attorneys very often find themselves advising adult children of the elderly on the intricacies of managing their parents’ finances. While it may seem straightforward at first, there are a lot of details and difficulties that can get in the way. There are so many things to […]
Before You Hire Before a California Elder Law Attorney…Ask These 10 Questions First!
You could never fit the dreams, goals, and desires of your family into a one-size-fits-all box. Nor can you fully anticipate the unique challenges, changes, and loss you and your loved ones may face ahead. As impossible as it is to predict your future and generalize your dreams, that’s how equally impossible it would be […]
Estate Planning in California is About More Than Planning for Death
Whether you live in Orange County or somewhere else in California, many of us believe that estate planning is simply instructions on how to distribute your assets when you pass away. From that perspective, estate planning is often viewed as something one does only after they have acquired substantial assets. While one major benefit of estate […]
Estate Planning for Military Families and Veterans in California
Although Memorial Day just passed, it is important to honor those that have served our country. This time is also a good opportunity for members of the military and their loved ones to consider setting up an – or revising an existing – estate plan. Military families need to consider special estate-planning issues that others […]
New Baby? Time to Create Your Estate Plan
Estate planning is often one item that gets pushed back on nearly everyone’s to-do list. That’s especially the case when you are so focused on loving and caring for your new bundle of joy. The other reasons you might be delaying vary: lack of time, not thinking you have enough assets, not knowing how to […]
Why You Should Sweat the Small Stuff in Your Estate Plan
When planning their estates, most people focus on major assets, such as business interests, real estate, investments and retirement plans. But it’s also important to “sweat the small stuff” — tangible personal property. Examples include automobiles, jewelry, clothing, antiques, furniture, artwork, photographs, music collections, personal papers, collectibles (such as stamps, coins or baseball cards) and […]
Sweat the Small Stuff in Your Estate Plan
When planning their estates, most people focus on major assets, such as business interests, real estate, investments and retirement plans. But it’s also important to “sweat the small stuff” — tangible personal property. Examples include automobiles, jewelry, clothing, antiques, furniture, artwork, photographs, music collections, personal papers, collectibles (such as stamps, coins or baseball cards) and […]
Three Legal Things to Do After a Scary Health Diagnosis
A scary health diagnosis can be emotionally and logistically challenging for many reasons. For instance, how can you take care of your family if you’re physically incapacitated? In addition to working closely with your medical providers, consider these three legal tips: Check your estate plan with your attorney to make sure it is up […]
How to Get Your Estate Planning Done in Just 10 Minutes
Research tells us that the majority of Americans today still do not have estate planning in place and only a third of parents have properly named legal guardians for their minor children. That’s problematic because life happens to all of us and gives none of us a heads up. But our message this week is not about […]