Category: Inheritance

family discussion over inheritance

It’s not unusual for a family that has recently come together in grief over the death of a loved one to be divided by disagreements over the distribution of assets from the deceased individual’s estate. Inheritance disputes between siblings or other family members can arise if the deceased’s will does not distribute assets equally or […]

house owner passing property to heir

A house is most people’s most valuable investment and the primary means of passing wealth from one generation to the next. When the sole owner of a house dies, they have often been widowed for some time and may have failed their will or trust to ensure they can pass their property on to their […]

what happens to digital assets when someone passes away

It is important not to overlook digital assets as you establish a will or trust to distribute your estate upon death. Digital assets have value you may want to pass on to beneficiaries. However, online assets are protected by passwords and may not be available to anyone, including designated heirs, if you fail to take […]

the 5 biggest trustee duties

Follow Trust Terms The trustee has a duty to follow the Trust terms. In other words, do as they’re told. May sound obvious, but it’s remarkable how often trustees seem to get that one wrong. It is a basic trustee duty that can be found at California Probate Code section 16000. Too often individual trustees will […]

will statement about inheriting a house or passing on property to future generations

(Updated 2024-3-14) The single most valuable asset most people in California own is their home. Passing a house from one generation to the next is the standard basis for building wealth in our country. But there are multiple ways an individual may inherit a house, and several options exist for using this asset after inheriting […]

inheritance law

If the Grantor wishes to limit or control how and when a specific heir is to receive their inheritance the Grantor may impose conditions on the distribution of assets. Grantors may also choose to change the original allocation of assets among the beneficiaries in subsequent codicils, amendments, and restatements to the original Will or Trust. What are […]

partial disinheritance

Disinheritance is when someone changes their estate plan (Trust or Will) to remove an heir, or previous beneficiary, effectively barring the heir from receiving the full share they were previously entitled to. Heirs and beneficiaries can be fully disinherited, partially disinherited, or can have conditions placed on their inheritance by the Grantor. Below we will […]

complete disinheritance

Being removed as a beneficiary of a Will or Trust can be emotionally painful for all involved. There are several types of disinheritance. The most extreme example of disinheritance is full/complete disinheritance. What is Complete Disinheritance? Complete disinheritance happens when a Will creator (“Testator”) or Trust creator (“Grantor” or “Settlor”) amends or changes a previously […]

Am I Entitled to an Inheritance

Under California law, a decedent’s family members (even the decedent’s children), are not necessarily entitled to receive an inheritance. A California resident may create an estate plan (a Will or Trust) and may leave their assets to whomever they wish (even non-family members). The decedent may also own other assets that are not subject to […]

Setting Up A Trust Fund

Setting up a trust for your children is an efficient way to transfer family wealth to the next generation in keeping with your wishes and to enable your family to avoid the California probate process after your death. A trust also may convey money to charities or colleges and universities that you support. Trust funds can […]