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 […]

As a Bay Area will and trust attorney, I often see the results of what happens when someone does not plan for the possibility of an unexpected disability. Most people come to our office ready to plan for their retirement or how they would like to see their estates managed after they have passed away. […]

One of my greatest passions as a Silicon Valley estate planning lawyer is teaching parents how to wisely prepare for death. I realize the possibility of dying while your children are still young can be difficult to accept and that’s why many parents choose to not think about it. Unfortunately, this fear can prevent parents […]

As a Santa Clara County trust lawyer, I’ve found that most people do not understand the serious privacy intrusions that their family can face if they die without a Living Trust. Here in California and across the country, if you pass away without a Living Trust, all of the details about your family’s inheritance and […]

As a Santa Clara will and trust lawyer, I can tell you the answer to this question and so many other estate planning questions is, “Yes, but….” It is true that if you own an asset jointly with rights of survivorship in California, the joint tenant will automatically retain ownership of the property when you […]

Serious health diagnoses can impact your life in huge ways and may bring concerns you haven’t thought of up to the forefront. One of those concerns, which is often pushed off when everything is going well, is estate planning and/or elder law planning. Planning can give you the peace of mind knowing that your family […]

When it comes to asset protection planning for retirement and leaving legacies to your loved ones, there are several different trusts available that can help accomplish your goals. One type of trust I recommend as a Bay Area trust attorney, called an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT), ensures that the benefits of your life insurance […]

If you are reading our blog, you’ve probably already decided that you want to create a living trust with a Silicon Valley will and trust lawyer to avoid probate and put a quick end to the estate administration process. You might also have decided that you want your estate and the decisions you made about […]

People often struggle with deciding who will serve as guardian for their minor children if they pass away. As Santa Clara County trust lawyers, we’ve walked hundreds of Santa Clara families through this process. Sometimes, the family situation requires naming not just one guardian, but two. If you leave your children a substantial inheritance (and […]

Here in Santa Clara, living will attorneys know full well the ramifications of not planning ahead for an unexpected disability. Even those clients who understand the importance of estate planning tend to overlook what would happen if they should become unable to care for themselves. It’s not the happiest thought, but the reality of not […]