If you’ve been named as a Trustee of a loved one’s trust, you should work with an estate planning attorney who will guide you through your duties. In general, you are responsible for preserving and protecting the assets for the benefit of the named beneficiaries. It is imperative to remember that although you are responsible […]
Estate Planning
Trustee – The Top 4 FAQ
Serving as Trustee for a loved one is both an honor and a responsibility. Turn to your estate planning attorney for expert guidance. Here are answers to the questions we receive most frequently in our office. 1. Is there anyone to help me? Yes. As a Trustee you can work with your estate planning attorney […]
My Parents Need Help Managing Their Bills
Run! Don’t walk to your estate planning attorney’s office. Your parents must put a comprehensive estate plan in place as soon as possible. Part of that estate plan allows you to help them out during their lifetime, managing finances, paying bills, and making health care decisions if they are not able to make those decisions […]
Naming a Bank as Trustee
Yes, you can name a bank (or trust company) as Trustee of your Trust. This is common for large estates and for those who do not feel comfortable appointing family or friends as Trustee. There are manyof banks that have trust departments and can serve as the Executor of an estate and Trustee of a […]
You’ve Moved: Now What?
We live in an extremely mobile society. Americans move on average once every seven years and many people choose to relocate to the San Diego area because of the beautiful weather and positive lifestyle. If you’ve moved to California from another state and haven’t had your estate plan reviewed, please contact your estate planning attorney […]
Do I Need a Will?
We get this question all of the time in our estate planning office. It is an important question. In a word, Yes. You do need a Will. Frequently, both clients doing Trust planning and clients with little or no assets ask this question. First, clients with Trust planning still need a Will. The Will (in […]
But, I Don’t Want to Inherit!
Believe it or not, you are not alone. We do hear the question, “What do I do if I don’t want to inherit something” in our office periodically. Beneficiaries disclaim for various reasons. For instance, they want the assets to go to someone else such as the deceased’s children; they don’t want to take responsibility […]
Can We Refinance Our House? It’s Titled in the Name of Our Trust?
With mortgage rates at historic lows, we have been getting asked this question quite a bit: “Can we refinance our house that’s titled in the name of our trust?” The answer is: Absolutely! Contact your estate planning attorney if are not sure how your house is titled. By all means, apply for the new loan. […]
A Will has no Effect on Most Property
Surprised? It’s true! While each and every person age 18 or older should have a Will, there are some things that a Will cannot do. If you’re like most people, you don’t realize that a Will has absolutely no effect on certain assets. The assets themselves determine what happens to them when you die; your […]
10 signs of Alzheimer’s disease
While medical advances can keep us alive longer and longer, science has not kept up with diseases of the mind. Alzheimer’s Disease is a common and scary affliction. Hopefully, this will change. In the meantime, it is imperative to have an estate plan in place before Alzheimer’s Disease strikes in full force. If you or […]