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 […]
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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 […]
What’s the Difference Between a Will and a Living Will?
Good question! We actually get that question quite a bit in our San Diego, California Estate Planning Law Office. A Will is a legal document used to transfer assets that you own in your individual name and to name an Executor to administer your estate. It is effective AFTER you die and is also used […]
Don’t Do It: The Perils of Joint Ownership with Your Child
Oh my, there are many perils of joint ownership with your child. Many parents when divorced or widowed seek to add their children’s names to bank accounts, real estate, and investment accounts. These parents are seeking ease in dealing with these assets during lifetime and ease in transfer after death. But, ease is not common […]
What do Your Estate Planning Attorney and Your Eye Doctor Have in Common?
Okay, picture yourself in the chair at the eye doctor’s office. She puts that huge goofy looking machine thingy in front of your face and says, “Is this better or is this better?” “Is number one better or number two?” “Which one is more clear?” Your estate planning attorney does the same thing, without the […]
Do I Need an Estate Plan While I’m Alive?
If you are reading this, you need an updated estate plan so call your estate planning attorney now. Everyone age 18 or older already has an estate plan. What?! Yes, you have an estate plan, but if you’re like most people, it’s not the plan that you want. If you do not have your own […]