Modern Estate Planning Blog

Many clients who seek out estate planning in the greater Sacramento area have concerns when it comes to caring for their pets.

"My 18-year-old son is going to college hours away from me. Eventually, we will be willing to let him take one of the cars down with him. I wondered if we should put the car in his name and have him get his own policy."

While it can be very difficult to discuss death and what would happen to your kids if you were gone, it would be even harder for your surviving family members to deal with this loss in the absence of guidance and clear directions from you.

A springing power of attorney is a durable power of attorney whose powers “spring” into effect only after a predetermined event, such as incapacity or disability.

It’s no secret that the late singer, Amy Winehouse, struggled to keep her personal life together as her fame grew before the public eye. But what Amy did manage to keep in meticulous order though was her estate planning, which ultimately protected her wishes and fortune following her death.

When it comes to estate planning, people generally think about death or taxes. But what people don’t realize is how a Sacramento wills and trust attorney can help you develop the legacy you wish to leave behind.

The word “probate” often conjures visions of lawyers, long waits, loss of inheritance, and many other hassles for heirs of an estate.

Many parents know the importance of making sure they have legal guardians named who could care for their minor children should death or incapacity occur.

One option for making sure that your funeral costs are close to the amount that you want to spend is to give your family a strict budget for things like a casket, cremation, funeral services and burial.

No one likes the idea of leaving their children without a parent, especially when the discussion revolves around planning for an untimely death.

"My sisters and I worry about our elderly parents and a handicapped sister who all live in the same house in Georgia. We have heard that if one or both of our parents have to move to a nursing home the state can take their home to help pay for the cost. Is this true?"

"My elderly, but healthy as of now, parents own a classic car collection with a value of approximately $100,000. They also jointly own their house with a value of $135,000. They have about $150,000 in cash and retirement accounts worth $125,000. What planning can be done now so that these assets may be retained by the family if my parents need to go into a nursing home in the future?"

What would happen if the Executor of your will passes away before you do or simply declines the responsibility of administering your estate when called upon? Believe it or not, this happens quite frequently.

Change is an inevitable aspect of your life. Seasons, styles, your likes and dislikes – nothing is immune to time. The same goes for your will.

Trusts, estates, living wills, durable or non-durable power of attorney – all of these terms can seem like a foreign language, especially if you are young and death seems far away.

If you are a young couple with few assets, having a will is probably one of the last things on your mind.

As a lawyer with extensive trust administration experience in Sacramento, I have seen that the death of a loved one, especially if that person is a spouse or parent, is one of the most difficult periods in a person’s life.

"My elderly parents may qualify for the A&A pension benefit. Who do you recommend we contact to help us with the application process and to navigate the Veterans Administration?"

You put a lot of time and thought into planning your estate and creating a sound Last Will and Testament, but let me ask you one important question today: Do your kids or heirs know where it is?

Deciding who will care for your children in the event that you pass away before they turn 18 can be a very difficult decision to make. No one likes to think about an untimely death, and it is especially hard to think about leaving your minor children behind.