Most people accept the role of successor trustee because they love and trust the person who asked them. That's the right reason to say yes. It's also the last moment the job feels simple. What Fiduciary Duty Actually Means Fiduciary duty is not a formality. It means every decision a trustee makes must serve all beneficiaries equally, not just the…[...]

Continue Reading

Posted in Blogs | No Comments »

If you are in a blended family, you may believe the simplest estate plan is the fairest one: "I'll leave everything to my spouse. They'll take care of my kids." That approach often works in a first and only marriage. If you and your spouse share the same biological or adopted children, the surviving spouse will most often naturally leave…[...]

Continue Reading

Posted in Estate Planning | No Comments »

For some people, the term family meeting may not bring to mind a pleasant gathering where everyone shares fond memories and warm feelings. When someone says, “We need to talk,” it often implies that something is wrong or that tough decisions need to be made or discussed. However, in estate planning, future problems are exactly what family meetings are intended…[...]

Continue Reading

Posted in Estate Planning | No Comments »

When someone calls an estate planning attorney asking for a "quick look" at their documents, the request usually sounds straightforward. Maybe the documents were created using an online service, and they want to “just be sure” the documents are sound. Perhaps there's been a move to a new state and a question about whether the plan still works. Or maybe…[...]

Continue Reading

Posted in Estate Planning | No Comments »

Steward—a term for someone entrusted with the care of something that does not personally belong to them—is commonly used in such realms as business, public service, and environmentalism. Conservationists may be referred to as stewards of the land. Business leaders may describe themselves as stewards charged with acting in shareholders’ best interests. Public figures refer to stewardship of democracy, taxpayer…[...]

Continue Reading

Posted in Estate Planning | No Comments »

When Anna Harp lost her father, Rudolph Clausing, she didn’t get to say goodbye. It was January 2021, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her dad had been battling lung disease when he contracted the virus, and strict hospital protocols meant his family couldn’t be by his side in his final days. Anna was just 27. Her father was…[...]

Continue Reading

Posted in Estate Planning | No Comments »

When planning for your death, there’s one issue you may not have thought about, but is so important to your beneficiaries: will your loved ones have to pay taxes on what you leave them? The answer isn't straightforward because it depends largely on the types of assets you're passing down, how much you are passing on, and where you reside…[...]

Continue Reading

Posted in Estate Planning | No Comments »

Most California business owners have a plan, at least in their heads. The problem is that a plan in your head doesn't hold up in probate court, doesn't transfer shares to the right person, and doesn't keep the business running when you're incapacitated. Succession planning isn't a single document. It's a system, and it has to be built before you…[...]

Continue Reading

Posted in Blogs | No Comments »