Last updated on 09/04/2024 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Last updated on 09/11/2025 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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 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 […]
Real estate passed on from one generation to the next is one of the primary ways wealth is built in this country. Siblings who jointly inherit a home or other California real estate assets from a deceased parent can sell the property and the proceeds. However, the common transfer of wealth through inheritance can be complicated if […]
