Real Estate Deed Fraud Is on the Rise—Here’s What You Need to Know Lately, a few clients have asked me about real estate fraud, especially after seeing a recent presentation by El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk Janelle Horne. If you own property—especially property without a mortgage—it’s important to be aware of growing scams targeting California property…
Planning for Pets Like Hope: What You Should Know About Pet Trusts in California Imagine a sweet, 17-year-old cat named Hope. She’s been by her owner’s side through years of companionship—curled up on the couch, waiting at the door, purring through every season of life. As she ages and her medical needs grow, her owner…
Forgotten but Not Left Behind: What Happens When a Spouse Is Omitted from an Estate Plan? Estate planning is all about preparation. But life happens—and sometimes, people get married after signing a will or trust and forget to update it. In these situations, the surviving spouse may be what California law calls a pretermitted spouse—someone unintentionally…
Should You Add Your Vehicle to Your Trust? When building an estate plan, it’s important to ensure that assets are properly aligned with your goals — but not every asset needs to be placed into a trust. One common question is whether vehicles should be included. In California (and in some other states), adding a…
