In the United States, most estates avoid taxation. To have a levy placed on yours requires you to have substantial assets. Yet, years of shrewd saving might have led you to amass a sizable fortune. Or, a business success might have led to a financial windfall that...
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Can a personal representative be removed?
As people in San Diego are aware no one lives forever. One of the unfortunate facts of life is that everyone will pass away. As people prepare for death there are many things they have to think about as people cannot take all the property and assets they acquired...
Understanding probate in California
When a loved one dies, settling their estate usually includes probate. People often are not prepared for the legal process and costs, even if they had discussed it with their recently deceased loved one beforehand. Probate is essentially the court-supervised process...
Preventing challenges to wills and trusts
People hope that their wills, trusts and other estate documents will be followed after they die. But beneficiaries and family member often mount legal challenges. You may anticipate these actions in your estate planning by considering the use of a no-contest clause in...
Should I Use Both a Will and a Trust?
Oftentimes an estate plan has both a will and trust. People in San Diego may wonder why both these documents are valuable, and which is more important. The importance is in the eye of the person whose estate plan it is, but it is important to understand the advantages...
How to choose an executor over an estate
Choosing an executor for an estate is an important decision no matter the size of the estate. California residents may want to consider the following when making this decision. An executor is an individual who is appointed to administer the estate of a deceased...
Identifying interested parties in will contests
One of the first questions that must be answered when a will is contested in California is who are the interested parties. And while this question may seem simple enough on the surface, it can be a complicated question to answer in some cases. In fact, the petitioner...
How to make a challenge to a will less likely
Some people who are creating an estate plan might be concerned that it could be vulnerable to challenges. There are ways to make a will contest less likely. First, people should not put off creating a will. The document should be made when there is no question about...
Naming guardians in your estate plan could protect your children
You are young and your family is growing. You might feel like your whole future is in front of you and your children. This might seem like an odd time to be thinking about an estate plan. Having an estate plan that names a guardian is important. You need to understand...
Providing for your pet in your estate plan
According to Guinness World Records, a cat named Blackie became the world’s wealthiest cat in history after inheriting $13 million when his owner passed away. While leaving your entire estate to your pet probably isn’t a part of your end of life plans, more and more...
