If I had to pick one question that I am asked the most, I’d have to say this one ranks way up there… Do I need a new estate plan if I move out of California? Just like the answer to most estate planning questions, the answer is “it depends.” However, this one has a […]

Trusts are important legal relationships that involve a Grantor who creates a Trust to hold property, a Trustee who holds or manages the property in the Trust, and a Beneficiary (or Beneficiaries) who eventually receives the property. While there are many types of Trusts, they can be broken down into two categories: Revocable and Irrevocable. […]

As those of you who have been to my seminars know, when a person has received Medi-Cal benefits, that person’s estate may be subject to Medi-Cal Recovery. That means the state can recover for the costs of certain services it paid for during the person’s lifetime. As of January 1, 2017, the rules regarding what services are recoverable […]

Choosing a legal guardian who can raise your kids if you are unexpectedly incapacitated or pass away can be a daunting and difficult challenge. There are many things to take into account such as parenting styles and the potential guardian’s ability to love and take care of your children. These are just some of the […]

…And How May Seniors or People With Disabilities Benefit from One? When making decisions on care and insurance coverage for disabled and/or elderly loved ones, it’s easy to get lost in the myriad of choices and complicated regulations. With Medi-Cal there are income caps and asset limits, so individuals often do not qualify because their […]

If you have a properly executed Will or Trust in place, good for you! You’ve taken a great step toward protecting your assets for future generations. But establishing an estate plan is only the first step. You still need to make sure that your plan will stay rock solid by keeping it up to date. […]

If you own property, especially in the suburbs, there is probably a fence separating your property from your neighbors.  Most of the time, when that fence needs replacing, neighbors will work together to agree on (and split the cost of) the new fence.  That’s certainly the best way to go about it, if you can, […]

Many grandparents wish to leave a legacy behind for their grandchildren.  However, they may run into some issues if those children are underage. A San Francisco Peninsula Wills and Trusts attorney can help you determine what the best options are for leaving assets to underage beneficiaries, whether those assets are held in a Will or […]

Settling a probate estate in Santa Clara County requires quite a bit of time and a lot of organization. It has the potential to be a long, drawn-out process depending on the state of affairs of the deceased and how easy it is to work with the probate court. However, if you’re well-equipped and prepared […]

You have probably seen so-called “standard” (aka cheap) living trusts advertised all over the Bay Area. Seminars, direct mail, and telemarketing are all common marketing techniques for the companies that sell “Do-It-Yourself” legal plans. But buyer beware! These one-size-fits-all estate plans are NOT created to deal with your unique situation or handle your unique assets. […]