The F-Word That Can Break Your Estate Plan: Funding Let’s talk about the F-word. No, not that one. We’re talking about funding—and if your trust isn’t funded, your estate plan might not work the way you think it will. Many people walk out of their attorney’s office, binder in hand, feeling accomplished. The trust is…
Trust Administration’s Cold Case: What If a Beneficiary Goes Missing? A trust is designed to ensure that your assets reach the right hands, but what happens when a key player in this mystery—your beneficiary—vanishes without a trace? Imagine your trustee as a seasoned detective, magnifying glass in hand, sifting through old records and following cold…
Why HIPAA’s New Privacy Protections Matter to You When it comes to estate planning, privacy is everything—especially when it involves your health information. Recent updates to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) add some important new protections for your sensitive information, particularly around reproductive health care. Let’s break it down. What’s Changed? The…
How to Update Your Estate Plan After Losing Your Home in a Fire The recent fires in Los Angeles have left many families facing unimaginable challenges. For those who have lost their homes, recovery often begins with rebuilding and navigating insurance claims. However, it’s also important to assess the impact of such a significant loss…
Navigating A/B Trusts and Disclaimer Trusts in Estate Planning: A Guide for California Couples For married couples in California aiming to protect their assets and reduce estate taxes, A/B trusts and disclaimer trusts offer two distinct paths in estate planning. Both approaches leverage federal estate tax exemptions, yet they differ significantly in structure, flexibility, and…
