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. […]

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 […]

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 […]

A living trust is a perfect document for protecting privacy, avoiding probate, and determining who can take care of your affairs while you’re incapacitated and after you’ve passed on. It’s often an essential element for estate plans in Santa Clara as it gives an extra layer of protection to estates and gives the trust maker, […]

Most people are familiar with a basic Last Will and Testament but very few people in Santa Clara know what a Pour-Over Will is. Essentially, a Pour-Over Will is used in conjunction with a Trust, usually a Revocable Living Trust, and it directs that any assets you own outside of the trust at the time […]

Need help motivating your spouse to meet with a Will and Estate lawyer here in Santa Clara? We know from experience that the legal planning process is usually initiated by one spouse and is often met with hesitation by the other. It is understandable why one or both spouses would be reluctant to meet with […]

When making an estate plan and Last Will and Testament, many people have a difficult time deciding who should be the Executor of their estate. Oftentimes they will consider naming Co-Executors—two or more people who serve as executor of the estate. Each Co-Executor named in your Last Will and Testament will have authority over your […]

Many grandparents wish to leave a legacy behind for their grandchildren. However, they may run into some issues if those children are underage. A Bay Area 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 Trust, […]