A conservatorship is designed to protect the health and finances of a person who is no longer capable of acting for themselves. A conservator is someone appointed by a California probate court to oversee the disabled person’s estate or person. Once appointed, the conservator is accountable to the court, and…
The recent death of Prince Rogers Nelson sparked a great deal of interest in estate planning circles when it became known that the famous musician, commonly known by just his first name of “Prince,” apparently did not leave a last will and testament. Nelson was also unmarried and had no…
On September 21, 2015, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation authorizing the use of “Revocable Transfer on Death Deeds” as an estate planning option for residential property owners. As of this year, owners may use these instruments to bypass the normal probate process when disposing of their homes after death.…
Something to consider when you are making an estate plan is taking stock of just how much stuff you own. While we generally discuss an estate in terms of major assets (real estate, bank accounts, brokerage portfolios, etc.) there is also quite a bit of tangible personal property or household…
A power of attorney is a document authorizing someone to act on your behalf with respect to financial and contractual matters. Among other acts, a person holding your power of attorney may sell your house, write checks from your bank account, or access your safe deposit box. A power of…
The new year is a good opportunity to reconsider your estate planning needs. You should periodically review, and if necessary revise, your will, trust, and other estate planning documents such as a durable power of attorney, to keep your affairs current. Among other things, changes in the law may alter…
When you create a revocable living trust, your trustee has a legal duty to ensure your wishes, as expressed in the language of the trust document, are carried out. There may be pressure from family members or other interested parties to alter the trust’s meaning for their benefit, but at…
Many of us want to leave our home or other real property to our loved ones. But keeping property “in the family” can prove costly. For example, if a the land you own is contaminated by any type of environmental hazard, your heirs may end up footing the cleanup bill.…
As a general rule, you have the right to dispose of your property in a last will and testament as you see fit. For example, you could choose to disinherit one or all of your adult children. You can also make gifts to individuals and institutions subject to certain conditions,…
Although a last will and testament remains valid indefinitely, you should still review your estate planning every few years to account for changes in your life. Leaving a will unchanged for many years may lead to a situation where someone close to you is unintentionally omitted from receiving a share…