Creating and building a successful business is an incredibly difficult undertaking—and maintaining that success is usually even more challenging. Protecting that success, however, is a different story entirely. You must consider what will happen if you die or become incapacitated, if your business will be subjected to estate taxes once you pass away, or even […]

When a home is passed on to adult children after the death of a parent, there are three typical paths that beneficiaries can choose: move into the house, sell the house, or rent it out. If you and/or your siblings recently inherited a house and are uncertain about the best way to deal with the […]

Health care directives, which include the Living Will, Health Care Agent Designation, and HIPAA Medical Release, are necessary components of any estate plan. Health care issues occur more and more as we age, so it’s important to have the proper legal documentation in place to ensure we get the care we need. However, mental health […]

By Silicon Valley Estate Planning Attorney Gary Brainin Between 2007 and 2016, the number of unmarried couples over the age of 50 who were living together increased by 75% according to the Census Bureau. There are several factors contributing to the rise in romantic roommates. A change in social attitudes towards cohabitation has lifted much […]

A revocable living trust is the perfect document to protect your privacy, avoid probate, and leave someone you trust in charge of managing your affairs if you become incapacitated or pass away. It’s an essential element for estate plans and gives the trust maker, also known as the Grantor, the peace of mind that their […]

Attorneys in Santa Clara often see the results of what happens when someone does not realize the importance of planning for the possibility of an unexpected disability. Sure, clients come to their lawyers ready to plan for what to do with their retirements, or how they would like to see their estates managed after they […]

As a Silicon Valley trust lawyer, I know that it’s an unfortunate reality that people are afforded very little privacy here in California when they pass away. Under the laws of our state, and in every other state across the country, sensitive details about one’s estate and how much their loved ones stand to inherit […]

Few things in this world are as devastating as losing a partner. If you have suffered the loss of your life partner, our hearts go out to you. As Bay Area estate planning lawyers, we understand how the grief can be debilitating, and the last thing you want to think about is your “to do” […]

Will and trust lawyers in Santa Clara realize that there are many reasons why people put off estate planning. Some think that being young and healthy means they won’t need to worry about drafting up a will anytime soon. Others are just too uncomfortable thinking about what would happen to their spouse and children if […]

Earlier this year, a story about a dog in Virginia made national news. The dog was euthanized at the owner’s request. While stories of beloved pets being put to sleep aren’t usually newsworthy, this one made headlines because the dog was healthy and friendly. So why was he euthanized? Because it was in the owner’s […]