Category Archives: California Law

Inheritance: Leave Gifts for Grandchildren

Grandparent inheritance for Grandkids

From a practical perspective, the grandchildren’s parents often understand how to use the money for the benefit of their children. What’s more, they may spend or invest it appropriately on their children’s behalf.

Beneficiary Designations

Estate Plan, Living Will, and Healthcare Power of Attorney documents

If something happens, a successor trustee you previously selected steps in without court involvement. In such a case, they manage the trust on your behalf. You can also designate what happens to the trust’s money and property at your death.

Disinherit Your Children?

Estranged Child

Regardless of why a parent would disinherit a child, they should not disinherit as a tool to manipulate. Disinherited children may feel angry. This could lead to turmoil within the family.

Get Your Financial Ducks in a Row

Ducks in a Row Skvarna Law

An important first step for creating an estate plan? Take an inventory of your money and property. Regardless of your wealth or financial struggles, everything you own is part of your estate and should be listed–or at least accounted for– in your inventory.

Incapacity-Proof Your Estate Plan

Life Incapacity

Most people agree that a long life is good. However, life alone does not guarantee ideal circumstances. For example, longevity, coupled with physical or mental incapacity, can prove challenging.

The Importance of a Successor Trustee

Successor Trustee Estate Plan

Healthcare documents (such as a Medical POA, Advanced Directive or Living Will, and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) authorization form) primarily focus on medical matters. However, they may also impact the financial matters handled by the successor trustee.

Trustee Selection

Diagram of Settlor Beneficiary Trustee for RLT

Name someone to serve with you. This familiarizes your co-trustee with your trust. It also teaches your partner about the way you want the trust to operate. What’s more, it lets you evaluate your co-trustee’s abilities.

A Tale of Two Celebrity Estates

Red Carpet Celebrities

Chadwick Boseman died at the age of 43, after a four-year battle with colon cancer. Boseman kept his cancer diagnosis a secret for four years, working on projects such as the Black Panther in the Marvel Comics Avengerfilm franchise.