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…
Over the years, I’ve been asked many times whether a Transfer on Death (TOD) Deed is a good way to pass down property. These deeds were designed to simplify estate planning by avoiding probate—but in practice, they often create more problems than they solve. I no longer recommend TOD deeds to my clients—and I don’t draft them—because…
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…
📜 New Law Makes It Easier to End Low Value Irrevocable Trusts in California Starting January 1, 2025, California madeit easier to terminate small irrevocable trusts and subtrusts that no longer make financial sense to maintain. These updates offer much-needed flexibility for trustees and beneficiaries—but there’s an important caveat: the trust document itself can override…
Why Creating an Advance Health Care Directive is the Ultimate Act of Love Imagine this: you’re sitting in your favorite chair, sipping tea, and thinking about the future. Not the big things like the next family vacation or your career goals, but the quieter, more delicate parts of life—your health, your legacy, and the wishes…
