California business owners often have a tough time keeping afloat, especially in expensive cities like San Francisco. While owners may know what to do if their revenue drops, few think about addressing long-term success that outlives them. Creating an estate plan is a...
San Francisco Estate And Family Law Blog
The best reasons to use an irrevocable trust
California residents who create irrevocable trusts are often ceding control of their assets to another person or entity. Generally speaking, this is only beneficial for those who are looking to minimize their state or federal estate tax liabilities. It may also be...
Creating a peaceful joint custody agreement
Couples in California and other parts of the U.S. who are facing divorce may have to navigate the difficult process of making joint custody work for both parties. When a court awards shared custody to both parents, it can be challenging to make arrangements that suit...
Working With Estate Planning Firms May Help Protect Overseas Assets
California residents may have their primary residences and business holdings in California, but many of them are citizens of the world or digital nomads with other homes, businesses, and assets located around the world. While having the ability to increase wealth or...
Helping children cope with divorce
There is a lot to think about when going through a divorce in California. Since nearly everything earned or acquired during marriage is community property, couples need to inventory everything they have so they can split any community property equally. Determining how...
Will, trusts and other estate planning documents
Creating an estate plan is important for adults in California because it can ensure that a person's assets go to the individuals chosen by that person. It can also ensure that dependents are cared for and that there are plans in place in case a person becomes...
How to mitigate the financial consequences of divorce
California estranged couples may experience negative financial and emotional consequences regardless of when they end their marriages. However, it may be more difficult to overcome the consequences of a divorce that occurs closer to retirement age. Therefore, it is...
The potential benefits of self-settled trusts
If you are looking for a way to retain control of assets and obtain estate tax advantages, you may want to consider a self-settled trust. With self-settled trusts, those who live or own property in California or other states can name themselves as the beneficiary to...
Preserve and protect credit during a divorce
Anyone going through a divorce hopes to emerge with the highest credit score possible since they may need that to find a new place to live and to generally begin again in life. However, California residents may find that things that happen during the divorce threaten...
Client Update: California Supreme Court Affirms the Standing of Disinherited Beneficiaries to Bring a Trust Contest in Probate Court
On January 23, 2020, the California Supreme Court issued a much-anticipated opinion affirming the standing of beneficiaries disinherited by a later trust amendment to challenge that amendment in probate court. The Supreme Court stated unequivocally that “when a...