Regardless of your income or net worth, one thing's for certain: you need an estate plan. Even if you aren't wealthy, chances are you have at least one thing of value that you'd like to pass along to a loved one. Not only can an estate plan help maximize the value of the estate...

How often should I update my estate plan? Less than half of all Americans today have an estate plan, according to the most recent Gallup poll data.  If you already have an estate plan, congratulations! You have taken an important step towards protecting your family and your future. You are ahead of the curve.  However,...

Is It Possible to Leave a Child Out of My Estate Plan? California law presumes that you will want to include your children and spouse in your estate plan.  While for most families this will be the case, there are times when an individual may elect to leave certain family members out of their estate...

How might naming a beneficiary impact my estate plan? Beneficiary designations are an important part of any estate plan, but if handled incorrectly your beneficiary designation could create conflict with the rest of your estate plan. Traditionally, beneficiary designations are used for life insurance policies and retirement accounts. More recently, beneficiary designations have become popular...

What is a special needs trust? Ensuring their children are cared for after their death is a primary concern for any parent of a special needs child.  Children with disabilities often have increased financial needs and may require additional planning to make sure their needs are met in the event of the death of their...

Why do so many Americans put off estate planning? A survey conducted by Caring.com in 2017 revealed that an alarming six out of ten adults in the U.S. do not have even basic estate planning documents in place.  This means that over half of the U.S. population is at risk of dying without an estate...

Will divorce negate my will? Every year, over 750,000 people will file for divorce, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. If you are one of the hundreds of thousands of Americans who have divorced or will divorce this year, you will need to make updates to your estate plan. Chances are your estate...

Planning a wedding is not only an exciting experience, it’s also a good time to consider how your estate planning needs will change. By working with the right estate planning attorney, you can chart a better course for your financial future before you say “I do.” Although these may be complicated...

What are the unique needs of single people when it comes to estate planning? There are currently more single Americans than ever before. United States census data reveals that over 110 million Americans who are over the age of 18 are unmarried. This represents nearly half of our country’s population, up significantly from decades ago....

After the Walker Fire grew to be the largest wildfire of 2019 and Hurricane Dorian inflicted catastrophic damage in the Bahamas, natural disasters have surfaced to the forefront of the minds of people across the country. A natural disaster can result in considerable damage to your home and possessions. Often overlooked is the potential...