For nontraditional couples, estate planning can be somewhat different. LGBTQ+ couples and heterosexual couples who don’t marry should be aware of the tax ramifications and other issues that can crop up during estate planning. Below is some pertinent information about...
Estate Planning
What is a power of attorney?
Most people believe estate planning mainly focuses on what happens after they pass away. Their will instructs what happens to their assets, who should benefit from the estate and how an estate is settled. However, people have the option to decide in their will what...
Can someone plan to avoid estate taxes in California?
Estate planning is a deeply personal process in which someone provides support for their loved ones and creates a legacy. Every testator in California has unique concerns and goals, but there are some desires that are relatively universal. For example, most testators...
Why it’s important to know your heirs from your beneficiaries
There are a lot of complicated legal terms. Some of the few that often get confused are “heirs” and “beneficiaries.” Both of these terms are often used when planning an estate. Both of these terms also relate to someone who may benefit from the deceased’s assets....
What is digital estate planning?
Digital estate planning is an increasingly important aspect of modern estate management, reflecting the growing digital footprint in the lives of American adults. In the simplest terms, digital estate planning involves making arrangements for your digital assets after...
How many people die without a valid estate plan in place?
Estate planning is an important activity for all adults. Someone who has just turned 18 and plans to leave for college may need an estate plan. Someone who just got married or who had a baby would also likely benefit from an estate plan to put protections in place for...
Is it time to update your estate plan?
An estate plan is a set of legal documents that helps determine how someone's affairs should be handled at the end of their life. Many people create estate plans early in case of an emergency. However, these estate plans often sit around collecting dust, which can...
3 parts of an estate plan
You may wonder what you can do about your estate after you pass away. If you want to control what happens to your assets and personal effects after you die, an estate plan is essential. Making an estate plan is the process of anticipating your passing and instructing...
3 estate planning moves to make when preparing for retirement
There are many points in life during which an individual may have to consider their own mortality and what may happen in the future. For example, the months leading up to someone's retirement are one of the times in which people have to accept the consequences of...
4 ways of avoiding the red tape of probate
Probate is the legal process of administering your estate after you are gone. The court-controlled affair involves organizing your assets and paying off your estate's taxes and debts before distributing them to your heirs per the will. It may seem a pretty...