Planning your will involves more than just deciding who gets what. It is about making sure your wishes are clearly stated and legally sound. While it is important to outline your assets and beneficiaries, there are also things you should deliberately leave out. By...
Estate Planning
Including contingent beneficiaries in your estate plan
Your first choices of who will inherit from you likely are your children or your spouse. However, what if one or more of your intended heirs die before you do? Your assets may end up in the hands of someone you do not want to inherit from you. This is just one reason...
Grounds to contest wills and safeguarding against them
Wills contain the final exertion of the human will and heart. They reflect an individual's last wishes and care for friends, family and other parties. However, if not iron-clad, wills can face contestation and overturning. There are various grounds on which others may...
Reasons you need to update your estate plan
Estate planning secures your financial future so your wishes happen when you die, and it serves as a tool for managing your assets and protecting your loved ones. Unfortunately, it is not a one-and-done process. To make sure your estate plan in Bakersfield remains...
How is an estate divided without a will in California?
Losing a loved one is emotionally challenging enough. But then, what if this loved one possesses properties? Dealing with the legalities of estate division can add stress, especially between inheritors. Things can get even more complicated if the deceased did not...
Choosing the best advance directive for your health care
When it comes to planning for the future, individuals often overlook one essential aspect of health care: advance directives. These legal documents outline your preferences for medical treatments in case you cannot communicate your wishes. With the myriad of options...
2 estate planning tips for new parents
Not many life experiences are as fulfilling as becoming a parent. But becoming a parent also comes with its share of responsibilities. Besides loving, providing and caring for your child, one of the most important steps you need to take is to include them in your...
Revocable vs. irrevocable trusts: which one should you create?
When you’ve worked hard your entire life and amassed considerable wealth, it is only sensible that you pass down as much as possible to the people and causes you care about. One of the estate planning tools you can use to manage and pass down your estate to your loved...
Planning for the future: Why having a living will matters
A living will, also known as an advance healthcare directive, is a legal document that outlines your preferences for medical treatment and end-of-life care when you cannot communicate them due to mental or physical incapacitation. It allows you to express your wishes...
Options for leaving your house to loved ones in California
Leaving your house to your loved ones in California can be an important and thoughtful decision. However, the process of transferring ownership can be complicated and confusing. Here are some important steps to take when leaving your house to loved ones in...