Many couples are choosing to wait longer to get married, or choosing to not get married at all while sharing a life and co-owning property together. Estate planning can be especially important for unmarried couples in these situations. While marriage offers certain legal protections, unmarried couples face unique challenges when it comes to estate planning, particularly with jointly owned assets…
In the realm of estate planning, a will without a trust stands as an important document, orchestrating the distribution of assets and the fulfillment of wishes after one’s passing. In California, the statutory will serve as a convenient template for many individuals seeking to outline their testamentary intentions. While there are times when a statutory will may be sufficient –…
If you’re someone who is serving in the role of trustee, executor, conservator, or guardian, acting as a personal representative for someone’s estate in California, did you know that the state has specific guidelines for probate accounting? According to section 16062, the California probate code requires representatives to provide an accounting at least once a year. The purpose is usually…
For this four-part series, we are discussing very common scenarios that we see in our trust administrations where real estate is involved. Real estate, particularly the family home, often has emotional and sentimental components that throw a wrench in trust administrations. Beneficiaries often have different ideas of what to do with the family home. We will continue using the same…
