Estate Planning

For individuals embarking on second or subsequent marriages, the prospect of protecting their estate and assets can be daunting. However, a re-married couple can find peace of mind by prioritizing asset protection. Keeping assets as separate property can safeguard them, ensuring that their children will inherit their assets in the event of divorce or death. 

Attorney Christopher Heritage has extensive experience helping individuals in second marriages protect their hard-earned assets and ensure they are distributed to their intended beneficiaries. He takes time to get to know his clients and understand their needs and goals while helping them make informed, strategic decisions related to estate planning and asset protection.
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Asset protection is typically sought out by high-net-worth individuals concerned about creditors or lawsuits dismantling the assets they’ve worked so hard to build. Not everyone needs the added layer of security that asset protection provides, but if you have been considering a wealth defense strategy, putting protections in place may be the right option. 

What is asset protection?

Creating an asset protection plan is like putting up barriers around your wealth that keep both personal and business assets safe from seizure, creditors, litigation, and unfair taxation. 

Asset protection is completely legal in California and is even considered a crucial component of estate planning, especially for individuals with significant wealth. Others who should consider asset protection include the following:

• Homeowners who are upside down on their mortgage

• Anyone with large or recurring amounts of credit card debt

• Anyone in a high-liability profession, such as a doctor or lawyer

If you are an investor, a doctor, or an entrepreneur, you may already be concerned about the complexities of estate planning.
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The U.S. is a litigious country, with over

When someone writes their will, it is assumed that the document they create is representative of their final wishes. However, there are ways to challenge its accuracy.

The person who creates a document must be mentally and legally capable of making decisions for themselves and must not be under coercion to draft their will in a manner that benefits one party over another. 

Therefore, if a potential inheritor feels as though the will’s creator wasn’t in sound mind (or within their legal rights) when they made the will, they can challenge the document on the grounds of incompetence.

Challenging for Competency

In California,

Blended families are the new normal, thanks to changing societal norms concerning divorce and remarriage. Though once a rarity, the “yours, mine, and ours” scenario is now commonplace.

While navigating new family dynamics is never easy, it’s not unusual for adults to come to love their stepchildren just as much as their biological children.

Life is fleeting, and none of us know what can happen tomorrow, but having discussions about passing away can be overwhelming and too tough to handle. Many people find them morbid, unable to handle the thought of losing their cherished family members and friends. However, if you pass away without putting your affairs in order, you could leave your loved ones in a terrible place. 

Not only will they have to go through a stressful probate process and potentially fight a range of claims against your estate, but they might end up turning against each other. That can be particularly heartbreaking in

Outstanding debt can put a serious damper on your peace of mind, especially with regard to protecting your home. Fortunately, there are certain steps you can take to ensure your home is protected from creditors, both now and once ownership of the property passes on to your heirs.  

If creditors coming after your home is a point of serious concern for you, your best option is to consult an experienced estate planning attorney about which arrangements can keep your house and other assets safe going forward.

How California Creditors Can Take Your Home

In the state of California, creditors can seize your home in a number of ways. Lawsuits and foreclosures are the most common among these.

Managing finances can be a complicated matter for anyone. When you have a loved one who’s irresponsible with money, it can be even more challenging. Fortunately, estate planning allows you to consider potential spending issues and create a plan that supports your loved ones while also protecting them.

If you've ever spent time in a hospital, you may have heard someone mention an “advance directive.” An advance directive is a legal document that outlines a person's wishes for emergency or end-of-life medical care. Medical directives should be made in advance of a medical emergency that makes an incapacitated person unable to communicate. 

Thinking about end-of-life scenarios can be emotionally challenging, and many myths surround advance healthcare directives. Understanding the myths and misunderstandings about advance healthcare directives in California can help you make informed decisions.

Palm Springs is a wonderful place for active adults to live and work. Along with neighboring Coachella Valley cities, Palm Springs is among the most appealing Southern California communities for those who want an active retirement lifestyle. 

The weather is nearly perfect, the food scene is excellent, and the laid-back desert community is ideal for people who enjoy their peace and serenity but also want to have fun. If you are an active adult living and working in the Palm Springs area, it's crucial that you create an estate plan that meets your unique retirement goals. 

Form a Retirement Plan

If Palm Springs is the desert city of your choice and you'd like to retire here, you may be wondering how to prepare yourself financially for it.

When you create your estate plan, you’re establishing your legacy. And if you’re someone with considerable assets, you might be thinking about donating some of that wealth to a beloved charity or two.

Your charitable gift can have a life-changing impact on organizations you love. But did you know that the right charitable giving strategy can also minimize estate taxes for your heirs and potentially even lower your tax liability during your lifetime? Here are a few charitable giving options to consider.

A Bequest in Your Will

This is probably the simplest way to make a charitable gift.