When creating a trust, one important decision to make is who will act as the trustee. Choosing to name a non-family third party as the trustee of your trust can provide several benefits. Here, we will explore why this option may be considered when deciding who will oversee the trust. Objective Decision Making A third-party […]

You’ve spent a lifetime working to care for yourself and your family. When you reach your golden years, you may wonder what it is you’ll leave behind. What will your legacy be, and what can you do to give back to those who have enriched your life? One answer our Bay Area estate planning attorneys […]

The last thing you want after you pass is for your family members to squabble over your estate. Unfortunately, even with forethought and planning, loved ones may challenge the validity of your will and final wishes, throwing your estate into a potentially long, drawn-out legal process. So, how can you avoid having your will contested […]

A living trust is a valuable tool in estate planning. You can manage it while you’re alive while passing control of your affairs to someone else upon your incapacity or death. The assets in the trust can also avoid probate, allowing successor trustees immediate access to the funds they need without going through a long, […]

When planning for the second half of their lives, our Bay Area elder law attorneys have found that most people do not anticipate an increase in happiness. Research shows, however, that happiness does grow as people age. The comprehensive Second Half of Life Study conducted by AARP in collaboration with National Geographic examines the general […]

Inheriting a retirement account, such as a 401(k) or an IRA, can benefit a person struggling with their finances. It can help pay bills and create more stability. However, any Santa Clara inheritance lawyer will tell you that ignoring federal regulations can lead to significant tax penalties! The rules applying to your inherited account depend […]

Designating your estate as the beneficiary of your IRA might make sense to you. It’s simpler than choosing one or several loved ones as beneficiaries. It can also prevent future arguments and lawsuits among your family since you’re not naming one person over another. However, naming an estate as an IRA beneficiary is problematic and […]

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, affects the nerve cells that control voluntary muscles, eventually leading to paralysis. It prevents people from talking, walking, and, eventually, breathing. Typically, patients diagnosed with ALS die within three to five years of their diagnosis from respiratory failure. However, some live longer. Approximately 20,000 people […]

A funeral is a traditional method of honoring a person’s life after death. However, some people don’t feel comfortable having one. Choosing not to have a funeral is entirely acceptable. Your loved ones don’t have to attend the sad event if you want to spare them the burden. If you don’t have a funeral, other […]

Outlining your final wishes is essential to ensure that your assets are passed to their intended recipients as smoothly as possible after you die. If you have done the diligent work of putting your estate plan into place, you may believe that you have completed all the necessary steps. However, while you may believe your […]