Whether you experience marriage, divorce, the birth of children, significant financial shifts, or change your mind about beneficiaries, updating your will ensures your estate plan matches your present wishes. California law provides two primary methods for changing...
Legal Topics on Wills
What is a Last Will and Testament?
Creating a last will and testament is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your family and ensure your wishes are honored after your passing. This legal document allows you to control how your property is distributed, name guardians for your...
What Happens if I Die Without a Will?
No one likes to think about death, but planning ahead ensures that your wishes are honored and your loved ones are protected. A will is one of the simplest yet most powerful estate planning tools available. Without one, the law decides what happens to your assets. If...
4 things you can’t do with a will
A last will and testament is one of the basic building blocks of an estate plan – and they’re definitely useful when it comes to having a final say about how your assets are distributed after your death. However, wills aren’t the only tools available when it comes to...
3 reasons you should avoid using a DIY will
When planning how your estate will be distributed after your passing, it's essential to consider the crucial role of wills. Wills serve as legal documents outlining your wishes regarding the distribution of your assets and the care of any dependents after your death....
2 common reasons for will contests
Estate plans typically contain several key documents, including a will. The will outlines the final wishes of the testator in terms of how their assets should be distributed upon their death. A guardian for minor children can also be named in this document....
Should you include a no-contest clause in your will?
When you execute a will, you do so with the hope that this effort will eliminate potential confusions and conflicts that may arise regarding who will inherit your estate when you die. Without a will, California intestate laws will kick in and determine who can inherit...
Circumstances that affect the legitimacy of someone’s will
Maybe you have already made your will or intend to do so. If so, then you have taken an important step toward ensuring that your assets are distributed according to your wishes after your death. That should give you some peace of mind. However, there are certain...
What assets should I omit from my will?
A will is a crucial estate planning tool that speaks for you when you are no longer around. It outlines your wishes with respect to how you want your assets to be distributed when you pass on. If you die intestate, the state law will determine what happens to your...
Crucial reasons to challenge a will
Something just did not seem right about your father’s will. Even well before his death, you sensed something amiss in his life despite living miles away and seeing him infrequently. His physical and mental health had been failing the decade. He became too trusting...
