Every estate planning attorney in Orange County has, at some point in their career, heard a sad story about complications in handling a loved one’s estate. Legal language can be tricky, and sometimes a minor mistake can cause major problems. One way to prevent potential conflict among family members or a lengthy and expensive probate …
By Orange County Estate Planning Attorney, Darlynn Morgan If you’ve heard of a 529 Plan, you probably think of it as a means of education funding for your children or your grandchildren. These plans are sponsored by state agencies or educational institutions, and they’re available to people of all income brackets. While a 529 Plan …
In the past, we’ve shared about the hidden dangers of DIY estate planning. In this post, we cover one of the greatest risks posed by do-it-yourself documents You might think you can save time and money by using do-it-yourself estate planning documents you find online. You’re probably anxious to check estate planning off your life’s to-do …
When Something is NOT Better Than Nothing – Hidden Dangers of DIY Estate Planning Read More »
As an Orange County estate planning attorney, I know Millennials have a lot going on; they are starting their careers, buying their first homes and starting their families. With so many “beginnings” it’s hard to imagine finding time to stop and think about “the end.” A lot of people think that they are too young to …
The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) program has been a hot topic in the disabled community for years now. This highly anticipated program allows individuals with disabilities to save money without worrying about it impacting their ability to access government programs like Medi-Cal and SSI. An ABLE account, which will be known as CalABLE …
California is Not Ready for the ABLE program. But, You Can Still Start One Now! Read More »
As an Orange County estate lawyer, one thing that surprises many of my clients is that Powers of Attorney are necessary even for married couples. People automatically assume that their spouse will be able to handle everything on their behalf if they become incapacitated. This is not usually the case. A Power of Attorney is …
Every family is different. In some families, there is one breadwinner and sometimes both spouses work outside the home. Some families have children, while others are childless. Blended families bring children from previous relationships. Because there are many different life circumstances that go into making a family, there really is no one-size-fits-all approach to structuring …
In my years as an Orange County estate planning lawyer, it still surprises me to hear how uncomfortable people are discussing estate planning issues. Even families who are open to discussing their financial situations get squeamish when the word “inheritance” is brought up. However, like everything in life, the more you know the better. Experience …
If you have a vacation home, whether it’s located here in California or in another state, you may want to leave it to your heirs after you pass away. But, what you thought of as a wonderful gift can turn into their worst nightmare if you are not careful. Here are three critical questions that …
Orange County Estate Attorney Warns About Leaving Vacation Homes to Heirs Read More »
Identity theft is the fastest rising crime in America today. Criminal syndicates located overseas are gaining access to your personal information through a variety of tactics and using that information to open credit cards and bank accounts to buy products that they are then selling for profit. Due to complex international laws most of these …
Beware! Estate Planning Fraud in Orange County is on the Rise Read More »