Passing down a family business takes more than naming a successor; it requires a plan that transfers ownership smoothly and protects the company’s future. Estate planning gives you tools to control how your business is valued, managed, and passed...
Losing capacity can leave your family without the authority to manage your finances or make health decisions. Early estate planning allows you to choose who will step in, how decisions will be made, and what protections you want in place before anything changes. Acting now gives you control while you still have...
Legal incapacity occurs when an individual lacks sufficient mental capacity to make informed financial or medical decisions, rendering them unable to sign documents, manage accounts, or consent to treatment. This applies automatically to anyone under...
Brian Chew explained that many parents consider adding their children to the title as a way to avoid probate. The thought process is that when a parent passes away, the child already listed as a co-owner...
Brian Chew explained that the most common reason to update an estate plan is changing relationships, not just changing assets. Events such as marriage, divorce, the birth of children or grandchildren, or the passing of a loved one often require revisiting the...
Effective estate planning ensures family wealth is preserved across generations, and dynasty trusts offer a robust solution for achieving this goal. This episode of Estate Planning Beyond the Binder examines dynasty trusts in California, detailing their role in providing lifetime asset protection for children against creditors, divorce, and poor financial decisions. It highlights the...
Estate planning is a process, not just a product. While receiving your binder with signed documents is important, it’s only the beginning. The binder contains your estate plan – a series of documents that need proper implementation....
The estate planning binder is the foundation of protecating your family’s future, containing essential legal documents. However, it’s merely the first step in ensuring your family’s protection. While the binder houses crucial documents,...
Divorce changes more than your personal life—it reshapes your entire estate plan. From wills and trusts to beneficiary designations and healthcare directives, every document that once reflected trust between spouses must be reevaluated. Brian Chew, Managing Partner at OC Wills and Trusts, explains why failing to update these documents can leave...
Many California families assume that if they pass away without a will or trust, their loved ones will automatically “figure things out.” In reality, dying without an estate plan—known legally as dying intestate—triggers a costly and time-consuming process that often leaves families frustrated and financially strained.
In this episode...
