An estate plan isn’t an immutable document that is created, then stashed away unchanged -- perhaps for years or even decades -- until your death. It needs to be periodically updated as circumstances warrant, especially if your life changes, either in anticipated or...
Writing a last will often requires a bit of time and emotional investment. When someone has already taken that step, they may act as though they don't have to worry about their legacy or their dependents anymore. However, the truth is that the average estate plan will...
One of the hardest parts of creating an estate plan is dealing with sentimental items. There is just so much more to consider. With financial assets, it may be largely academic. You want to split your money evenly between two heirs, for instance, so you just have to...
When doing your estate planning, you need to consider future medical issues and the legal powers that you give to your heirs or other trusted family members. Don’t assume that estate planning is only for passing on assets or that it only kicks in after you pass away. ...
When you're a parent, ending a marriage means that you’re going to have to come up with a plan for the children you share with your spouse. In California, child custody disputes are often handled through mediation. This can be immensely helpful in diffusing...
Once upon a time, trusts were mostly for the very well-to-do, but that’s changed. The older generations are learning how to pass their wealth to their heirs as securely as possible -- and that often means planning ahead for potential problems. One of those problems...
In March’s issue of Contra Costa Lawyer magazine, Virginia Ekelund of Doyle Quane discusses the treatment of child support upon death of the payor. Virginia is a litigator with over thirty years of successful advocacy for her clients in State and Federal courts...
As part of your estate plan, one thing to consider is if you will need Medicaid in the future and how you should plan for that need. Medicaid has specific terms and financial requirements. It is considered a "needs-based" benefit, so there are limits on how much money...
Forensic accountants are specialists who investigate where money has gone or where it is coming from. They specialize in tracking funds and unraveling cases where fraud may be present. A forensic accountant can help during a divorce, because they are able to look over...
Ending a marriage can be difficult under the best of circumstances, but when you’re dealing with a spouse that’s inclined to “go low” and play tricks, your divorce can quickly get complicated in ways that you’d never expect. One of the most underhand moves of all,...