Estate Planning

One of the most important responsibilities that a parent has is to look out for the safety and wellbeing of his or her children. This is why it is so important to prepare for the guardianship of your child. Guardianship is the legal process that allows an individual who is named to serve as the final decision maker for another person.

But while consideration should be given to whom you wish to assign the position to, special consideration should be given for those who have children with special needs. People with Read more . . .

When we pass away someday, we often hope that our assets can be provided to those whom we love. The last thing that we want is for those very individuals to get into a dispute over the estate. Unfortunately though, this can occur even within the closest families often due to the emotional strain that is often experienced when grieving.

Not only can these family feuds prove devastating for relationships, but they can also cost you a lot of time and a lot of money. Estate disputes can even drain resources and leave your loved ones without the close relationships they once shared – let alone the gifts you intended for them to have.
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As a proud melting pot of the world, the U.S. often becomes home to non-U.S. citizens.
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Dementia is a word used to explain a set of symptoms such as memory loss, a decline in problem-solving skills, and unclear thinking. It serves as the umbrella term to a number of diseases. One such disease that can be considered a type of dementia is Alzheimer’s disease.

In addition to Alzheimer’s, common causes of dementia also include:

• Parkinson’s Disease Dementia
• Vascular Dementia
• Mixed Dementia
• Huntington’s Disease
• Frontotemporal Dementia
• Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Planning Ahead with Alzheimer’s or Dementia

Though it can be quite difficult to picture your future (or the future of your spouse) with dementia, it is exceedingly important. This is because without

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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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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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