Stepping into the role of Successor Trustee after the incapacitation or death of a loved one is a big job that can feel scary and overwhelming for someone who has never served in such capacity. Orange County Trust lawyers understand that it can be equally unnerving to learn that the Trustee can be held liable […]
Category Archives: Estate Planning
Orange County Will Lawyer Answers: “My Mom Died… Can I Sell Her House as Her Power of Attorney?”
Question: My mom recently died, and I’m her Power of Attorney. Am I able to contact a realtor to start the process of selling her house? I don’t want the bills to start piling up. Answer: Believe it or not, this is a common question that I receive as an Orange County Will lawyers receive […]
Newport Beach Will and Trust Lawyer: 10 Steps to Create an Estate Plan
Working with an experienced Newport Beach will and trust lawyer to create a comprehensive estate plan can seem like a daunting process. Let’s face it: the decisions you have to make, the information you have to gather, and the sheer amount of paperwork involved are enough to make anyone pause. That’s why it’s so important […]
How to Create an Estate Plan During COVID-19 | Orange County Estate Planning Lawyers
Creating an estate plan in 2019 looked a little bit like this: you and your spouse or partner, perhaps along with your adult children, would make an appointment at an Orange County estate planning lawyer’s office to go over your plans. A week or so later, you’d receive drafts of your documents in the mail […]
Involving Your Adult Children in the California Estate Planning Process
“How much do you tell your kids? When do you tell them? Is it possible to tell your kids too much, too soon? What happens if you tell them too little, too late?” These are common questions that come up when deciding whether to involve adult children in the California estate planning process. The answers […]
Everything You Need to Know About Estate Planning for Blended Families | Newport Beach Will and Estate Lawyer
Here’s a common horror story: a father remarries late in life to a woman with her own kids. The father does not create a Last Will and Testament. When the father dies, his estate goes entirely to his new wife since she is his next of kin according to the laws of intestacy. When the […]
Orange County Estate Lawyer: How to Make a Revocable Living Trust
A revocable living trust protects your privacy, avoids probate, and determines who will handle your affairs while you’re incapacitated and after you’ve passed away. It’s essential element for estate plans as it provides an extra layer of protection to your estate and gives you the peace of mind that your wishes will be carried out. […]
Should I Update My Estate Plan Because of COVID-19?
As the coronavirus continues to impact life as we know it here in the United States, the most common question we’ve been asked during the course of the pandemic is whether an existing estate plan should be changed or updated. Of course, the answer to that question (like most things in life) is that it […]
A Tragic Oversight: Kobe Bryant’s Youngest Daughter Mistakenly Left Out of Family Trust
In January, we reported how the deaths of NBA legend Kobe Bryant (Kobe) and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, in a helicopter crash demonstrated the vital need for estate planning for people of all ages. At the time, little was known about the planning strategies Kobe had in place to protect and preserve his estimated $600 […]
Can I Take Over a Family Member’s Mortgage When They Die?
Estate planning lawyers in Orange County hear quite regularly from heirs who are shocked to learn that the property they inherited from a loved one comes with a mortgage. Now what? It’s important to know that a mortgage does not die when the owner does. How that mortgage is dealt with depends on a variety […]
