Palm Springs Law Blog

We’re now living in an Amazon world. What was once done in person is now done online. We use our computers and electronic devices to do just about anything and everything. One such thing that has also migrated to an electronic format: forms. Many industries now rely upon electronic filings, commonly referred to as e-filing, in order to store important information.
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Most of us know that it is very important to have a Will. For many, this is a necessary document for estate planning. But while Wills are in fact an important estate planning document, they are not the only important part of an estate plan.
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A Will is a legal document that is a valuable tool in comprehensive estate planning. A Will enables you to share what you want to happen to your assets, among other things, after you pass away. That’s why it is always a good idea to review your Will with an experienced estate planning and probate attorney on a regular basis.

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When heirs wait on an estate to move through the probate process after a loved one passes, it can be both expensive and time-consuming. In order to avoid this, a living trust is often created.

A living trust is an estate-planning tool, a legal document that allows you to grant the ownership of your various assets to your beneficiaries of choice. A trustee will be appointed, who will oversee the management of your assets for your beneficiaries.

 

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Your home is one of – if not the – most expensive assets that you will ever own. It is for this reason that it is imperative that you understand which legal documentation to complete in order to ensure that it can be transferred properly to your intended heirs after you pass.

You may understand what it means to transfer assets to heirs upon your death, but estate planning for the transfer of real property is not the same thing. Real property includes anything attached to the land you own, the land itself, and the home upon the land. A deed must be recorded in the proper jurisdiction (the one in which the property is located) in order to establish ownership of real property.

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When parents pass away without an estate plan, their assets will be distributed in a particular order, going to their spouse and then equally among their children. But what happens when one of their children is adopted? When a child is adopted, are they entitled to inherit from their adoptive parents, birth parents, or both? Despite otherwise wishful thinking, adopted children do not benefit from two sets of parents. Confused about who you are to inherit from? Here is what you need to know about the right to inheritance with adoption in California.
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Some of the most important documents to execute during your lifetime are those that help create an all-inclusive estate plan. Having a comprehensive estate plan helps to ensure that your wishes are carried out when you are incapacitated or deceased.

While estate plans include a large number of physical assets, it should include more than just that.
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Losing a loved one can prove devastating. When you are dealing with such strong emotions and putting one foot in front of the other, you probably don’t want to have to deal with figuring out their estate – let alone if it goes to probate. 

Probate is a legal process in which a court-appointed executor helps to settle an individual’s estate and ensure its validity. Unfortunately, though, probate can be quite expensive and lengthy – it can even last for years. 

Is There a Way to Avoid Probate?

You may possibly be able to avoid the probate process if the executor of the estate can prove that all of the person’s debts have been paid by their estate and no significant debts remain.
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Estate plans help us to take care of others and ourselves when we are not in a place to be able to do so ourselves. Whether due to incapacitation or death, we always want to be sure that our loved ones and ourselves will best be protected. This holds an even more important meaning for families who have a child or loved one with a disability. 

Once they reach the age of 18, the government treats all individuals with disabilities as adults. However, anyone who becomes disabled prior to the age of 22 may receive Social Security Income (SSI) benefits as long as the sum of their cash assets remains under $2,000 and their income stays lower than the amount of money they would receive in SSI benefits.
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Studies have shown that companion animals help us to reduce stress and blood pressure, and allow us to live longer. They are the ones waiting by the door every time you return, only to greet you with unconditional affection. That is why although they are our companion animals, many of us consider them to be a member of the family. 

Unfortunately, the law does not yet share this sentiment. Under the law, companion animals are still considered to be a type of tangible personal property – no different than our car or our couch.
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From bank accounts to taxes, to purchasing a home, as couples embark on the journey of marriage, there are many aspects of each individual’s life that become joined. However, one aspect that most newlyweds don’t think about is the creation of an estate plan.

Regardless of each individual’s age, sex, sexual orientation, gender-identity or socioeconomic status, it is never too early to establish an estate plan.
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