Proposition 19 has fundamentally changed how inherited property is taxed in California, leading to unexpected financial challenges for many families. Explore the ongoing impact on estate planning and the three statewide petitions currently seeking to reform property tax assessments and initiative processes.
Should You Give Your Health Care Agent Immediate Authority? When you create a California Advance Health Care Directive, one important choice is when your agent’s authority begins. You can choose for your agent’s power to take effect immediately—or only after you lose the ability to make your own medical decisions. Many clients pause here, unsure…
Should You Put Your Timeshare Into a Trust? Timeshares can be wonderful for making vacation memories, but when it comes to estate planning, they can also be one of the trickiest assets to deal with. Unlike a home or retirement account, a timeshare isn’t just about ownership—it comes with ongoing fees, limited availability, and, sometimes,…
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…
Haunted or Homebound? The Spooky Truth About Burying Human Remains on Private Property in California As Halloween approaches, thoughts of haunted houses, graveyards, and ghost stories fill the air. But what if you wanted to turn your own backyard into a final resting place? In California, the rules are clear: before you start digging, beware — the…
