One of the noteworthy pieces of legislation passed in 2024 was Assembly Bill 2016 (AB 2016), which aims to address accessibility, efficiency, and fairness within California’s probate procedures. Probate is the court process through which a deceased person’s assets are administered and distributed to beneficiaries and heirs. It can be a complex, time-consuming, and expensive process. AB 2016 seeks to…
Understanding the Corporate Transparency Act: A Guide for Estate Planning Clients The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), enacted as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021, represents a significant shift in corporate regulatory compliance. As an estate planning attorney, it is crucial to ensure that my clients are aware of this legislation and understand how it may…
Death is a topic many of us prefer to avoid, but as responsible adults, planning for the future includes considering what will happen to our assets when we’re no longer around. US Savings Bonds are a common investment choice for many Americans due to their low risk and reliability. However, what happens to these bonds after the bondholder passes away…
Many people believe that everything automatically passes to their spouse upon their death, regardless of how property is titled or any estate planning documents prepared. In some cases, this may be true. However, there are several situations where this may not be the case, and the surviving spouse may either not receive the property or may experience difficulty gaining access…
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…