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. […]

If your child has been recently diagnosed with autism, you are probably feeling overwhelmed with this new direction your life has taken and inundated with information about how to care for your very special child. The good news is that there are a number of ways that the government and other organizations can help you. […]

If you are a frequent reader of our Santa Clara elder law blog, you know that we talk a lot about how to take care of your older and/or disabled loved ones. We are passionate about helping people spend their end of life as comfortably and securely as possible. However, one thing that we don’t […]

Many people are familiar with this common horror story: a parent remarries later in life to a person with a family of his or her own. When the parent passes away, their estate goes entirely to their new spouse through the laws of intestacy. When the new spouse then dies, the cumulative estate goes to […]

Irrevocable Trusts are an integral part of most asset protection planning strategies. They are used to protect property and assets from nursing homes and predators and, depending on your individual situation, can end up saving you thousands of dollars. Silicon Valley trusts attorneys have put together some of the basics to give you everything you […]

The death of a loved one is one of the most difficult experiences to deal with in life. What makes the situation even harder is the financial aspect that accompanies funeral and burial expenses. Money is often the last thing grieving families want to think about but, unfortunately, expenses related to death must be paid […]

For years, I’ve been advising my clients to include in their estate plans instructions for their “Digital Assets” (things like email accounts, social media, domain names) because the law hasn’t caught up with technology. I just learned that California is taking a big step to change that. Last week, I attended the Kasner Estate Planning […]