How can an estate planning attorney help me to fulfill my fiduciary duties?

A fiduciary is defined as any person who acts in a representative capacity, with legal authority, on behalf of someone else or a decedent’s estate.  There are several different types of fiduciaries, depending on the context, including a trustee...

While most people understand that estate planning involves providing for loved ones upon their passing, many are unclear as to what the estate planning process actually entails.  This unfortunately leads to stubborn myths about estate planning that this article seeks to clarify. 

Myth 1: Estate Planning Is Only for Older People

Younger people...

When Prince passed away earlier this spring, we lost a truly amazing musician. His music and showmanship was groundbreaking, but so too were his ideas about the rights of recording artists. Over the years he has been in court probably more than any other musician out there, fighting for control of his...

Can an estate administer posthumous damages? Kristoff St. John, star of The Young and The Restless, and his former wife, Mia Rosales St. John, a professional boxer, filed a lawsuit against La Casa Mental Health Rehabilitation Center for the wrongful death of their son. The suit alleges negligence and wrongful death...

What is the greatest gift you can give your family this Holiday Season? Peace of mind.  Getting your Estate Plan in order is not always at the top of everyone’s to do list, but it should be.  With the proper legal documents in place, you can help ease the difficulties that your loved ones...

What happens if I forget to put an asset into my Trust? This is a question that many of our clients ask during our meetings.   Legally, if an asset was not put into the trust by title or named to be in the trust, then it will go where no asset wants to go…to

Common Questions: What is Probate and What Goes Through Probate? When a loved one passes away in California, his or her estate often goes through a court-managed process called probate or estate administration where the assets of the deceased are managed and distributed.  California probate is not particularly onerous, and many families can avoid...

Estates planning for women have changed drastically over the past several years. Many women today have their own careers, and manage their own financial planning. 

Estate planning does not pertain only to death.  A typical younger woman nowadays should start thinking about her own estate plan as soon as she is capable of...

Our office received an interesting question the other day about credit card debt. He wanted to know if his credit card debt is automatically forgiven upon his death. A lot of people are under the impression that your credit card debt dies along with...