Many people spend real time and care getting their will just right, then assume every account they own will follow those instructions. The surprise is that some of your largest assets do not listen to your will at all. Retirement accounts, life insurance, and certain bank and investment accounts pass by beneficiary designation, and the […]

Families are more spread out than ever, and one question comes up in our Santa Clara office all the time: My son or daughter lives across the country, so can they still handle things for me? The short answer is usually yes. The longer answer is that distance changes the job, and a few adjustments […]

Most parents start with the same instinct to divide everything evenly. For many families, that works beautifully. For others, an even split quietly ignores real differences, like the daughter who spent years providing care, the son who already received help buying a home, or the child who runs the family business. Equal and fair are […]

If you have a will, you may feel like your family is all set, and that is a completely reasonable thing to believe. Most people assume a will keeps their loved ones out of court. We hate to be the bearers of bad news, but a will is actually the document that sends an estate […]

A well-drafted estate plan can do a remarkable amount of work. It can direct real estate, retirement accounts, business interests, and financial assets with precision and legal clarity. But walk into the home of someone who has just passed and look around the room. You will quickly find the edges of what most estate plans […]

Of all the things that fracture families after a loved one passes, caregiving is one of the most common and one of the most painful. Not because the family didn’t love each other, but because love and sacrifice were distributed unevenly, and no one ever put a plan around it. One child moved nearby. They […]

A life estate is one of those estate planning tools that sounds deceptively simple. You retain the right to live in your home for the rest of your life. When you pass, the property transfers automatically to whoever you’ve named. No probate, no court process, no waiting. Clean and done. Except it is rarely that […]

It is one of the most common concerns we hear, and one of the least talked about. Maybe your children don’t get along, and you already know that putting them in charge of anything together is a recipe for conflict. Maybe you have one child who means well but struggles to manage their own finances, […]

People use the terms “joint tenancy” and “co-tenancy” as if they mean the same thing. In casual conversation, that’s fine. In your estate plan, it is a distinction that can completely change what happens to your property after you are gone. As a Santa Clara will and trust lawyer, this is one of the most […]

For most families, estate planning decisions often seem straightforward once the necessary documents are signed. However, many encounter unexpected challenges when those plans fail to meet their intended goals. Understanding why estate plans in Silicon Valley can falter, even with documentation, is crucial to avoid potential confusion and legal complications. Why does an estate plan […]