Your Smarter Estate Plan

Alternatives to Probate in California

Alternatives to Probate in California

Without a trust, probate is inevitable in California. That said, there are some probate alternatives. These alternatives to probate, if available, can transfer property in a decedent’s estate quicker and cheaper than a full, formal probate.

We Want to Keep Your Estate Planning Fees Low

We Want to Keep Your Estate Planning Fees Low

Estate planning is often put on the back-burner. Sometimes people never get around to it. However, planning ahead is important because doing so can save you thousands and thousands of dollars.

How to Protect Your Assets from Creditors with Estate Planning

How to Protect Your Assets from Creditors with Estate Planning

What is asset protection and how can it protect me and my beneficiaries from the claims of creditors? Put simply, asset protection is positioning your property in such a way so it is not subject to the claims of plaintiffs in lawsuits.

Don't Let Your Retirement Account Get Cut in Half

Don't Let Your Retirement Account Get Cut in Half

Failing to make sure your estate planning is coordinated with your retirement planning can have serious adverse effects on your estate and its beneficiaries. At worst, you’re looking at a 50% excise tax staring you in the face.

Estate Planning is Cheaper Than You Think

Estate Planning is Cheaper Than You Think

The cost of an estate plan is much lower than you think. Being a California resident, you likely know that it takes little more than a house with a mortgage and a checking account to to approach an estate value at more than $500,000.

Medi-Cal Planning: Eligibility and Recovery Liens

Medi-Cal Planning: Eligibility and Recovery Liens

Medi-Cal planning is often overlooked in estate plans. However, proper planning is important to ensure beneficiaries can qualify or maintain benefits and state recovery liens for benefits provided are avoided. In this blog post, we’ll first discuss the differences between Medi-Cal, Medicaid and Medicare. Next, we’ll explain Medi-Cal eligibility requirements and how to avoid a state recovery lien so you can plan smarter and understand these issues if they come up during trust administration.

Estate Planning: What You Need to Know, Part 4

Estate Planning: What You Need to Know, Part 4

In this fourth part of our series, Estate Planning: What You Need to Know, we’ll continue discussing what is often the most urgent concern among our clients: children. While part two of our series explained planning for incapacity and part three discussed ensuring your children are cared for after you’ve passed, this blog post will address specific, actionable steps you need to take to ensure your children are accounted for during incapacity.

Estate Planning: What You Need to Know, Part 3

Estate Planning: What You Need to Know, Part 3

In this third blog post of our five-part series on the basics of estate planning, we’ll learn more about designing a clear path to success for your children with your estate plan --- who this planning involves, what it will accomplish, when and why we should be doing it in the first place, and how we can bring our plans to life.

What Type of Estate Plan is Best for You?

What Type of Estate Plan is Best for You?

You have worked hard for your money and carefully managed your assets. So it makes sense that you want to find the right balance to maximize control and protection of your assets upon your death. Even if you think you don’t, everyone has an estate and it is important to choose the proper planning mechanism to ensure your assets are distributed according to your wishes in an effective and efficient manner.

Exploring the Role Professional Fiduciaries Play in Estate Planning

Exploring the Role Professional Fiduciaries Play in Estate Planning

If you’ve been reading the blog lately, you might have noticed most of our articles so far have been about providing general information to you so you can plan smarter. But what about some specifics? In this article, we’ll dive into the nitty gritty and go over the very important role professional fiduciaries play in the estate planning process.