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Using the California Small Estates Laws to Avoid Probate   By Attorney Paul Hanks Ironclad Living Trusts  In my personal experience…

Beware the Many Downsides to an Irrevocable Trust   My law firm receives many inquiries regarding irrevocable trusts. As an estate…

Why Adding Your Child to Title on Your Home is a Bad Idea  Thinking about adding your adult child to…

Most of Us Should Fear Death and Probate,  not Death and Taxes  By Attorney Paul Hanks Ironclad Living Trusts The…

Protecting Your Estate From Opportunistic In-Laws  By Attorney Paul Hanks Ironclad Living Trusts Clients have come to my law firm…

The Truth About Cheap Internet Trusts It is not uncommon for a consumer seeking a trust, before hiring an estate…

Successor Trustee Duties in a Living Trust A living trust is one of the most effective estate planning tools, offering…

 The Myth of the $1.00 Disinheritance Clause  Thinking about disinheriting a child or family member by awarding them $1.00 in your Will…

Medi-Cal Estate Recovery and California Living Trusts: What You Need to Know For many Californians, Medi-Cal provides essential healthcare coverage,…

The Role of the Bypass Trust in California Estate Planning Estate planning is a critical step for individuals and families…

Understanding Death and Inheritance Taxes in California Estate planning is a crucial step for individuals and families who want to…

Legal Challenges to a Will or Trust in California Wills and trusts are essential estate planning tools designed to ensure…

Is It Possible to Disinherit a Spouse in California? Legal Protections and Exceptions In California, estate planning offers a great…

How to Legally Disinherit a Child in California: Key Steps and Considerations Disinheriting a child can be a difficult and…

How to Protect an Inheritance from a Beneficiary’s Spouse Inheritance planning is a crucial aspect of financial management, particularly when…

Understanding Marital Property vs. Separate Property When it comes to asset distribution in a marriage, understanding the distinction between marital…

How a Certification of Trust Complements a Living Trust Estate planning involves careful consideration of how your assets will be…

Living Trusts and Certification of Trust: What You Need to Know When it comes to estate planning, one of the…

Steps to Legally Disinherit a Child in California Disinheriting a child is a profound and sometimes necessary decision that involves…

Legal Grounds for Disinheriting a Child in California Disinheriting a child is a significant decision that comes with emotional and…

The Role of Trusts in Disinheritance Strategies: Navigating California Law In estate planning, trusts are an essential tool for managing…

Understanding Disinheritance: What Does It Mean in California Law? Disinheritance is a legal process through which a person, typically a…

Amending vs. Restating a Living Trust: Navigating the Crossroads of Estate Planning When life’s inevitable changes unfold—be it through the…

Ensuring Stability: The Flexibility of Special Needs Trusts Can a Special Needs Trust Be Revoked or Amended? Special needs trusts…

Navigating Asset Inclusion: Understanding Special Needs Trusts What Assets Can Be Placed Into a Special Needs Trust? When it comes…

Choosing the Right Trustee for a Special Needs Trust: Who Can Serve? When setting up a Special Needs Trust (SNT)…

What is a Special Needs Trust (SNT)? A Special Needs Trust (SNT) is a powerful legal tool designed to improve…

How does an Irrevocable Living Trust (ILT) differ from a Revocable Living Trust (RLT)? Trusts are invaluable tools in estate…

Understanding the Power of an Irrevocable Living Trust (ILT) Estate planning can be a complex but crucial endeavor to ensure…

Heggstad Petitions vs. Probate: Which Is the Right Path? The process of transferring assets and property after a person’s passing…

The Heggstad Petition Process: Step-by-Step The Heggstad Petition is a legal tool that can save time, money, and potential complications…

Understanding the Heggstad Petition: A Guide to Protecting Your Assets When it comes to estate planning, one of the most…

Pour-Over Wills vs. Traditional Wills: Which is Right for You? When it comes to estate planning, one of the critical…

Navigating Probate Avoidance in California with a Pour-Over Will Probate can be a lengthy and expensive process, often causing headaches…

 Living Trust vs. Will: What’s the Difference? While both living trusts and wills are estate planning tools, they serve different…

What Is A Comprehensive Living Trust? A comprehensive living trust, also known simply as a living trust or a revocable…

Do You Need A Will If You Have A Revocable Living Trust? Under California laws, having a revocable living trust…

Does a Certification of Trust Need to be Notarized? A Certification of Trust is a document that provides essential information…

The most common type of trust is a revocable living trust. The settlor is the person who creates the revocable trust. It is essential to know that under a revocable trust, the settlor is also the trustee. Once the revocable trust is established, the settlor transfers assets to the trust.

The most common type of trust is a revocable living trust. The settlor is the person who creates the revocable trust. It is essential to know that under a revocable trust, the settlor is also the trustee. Once the revocable trust is established, the settlor transfers assets to the trust.

The most common type of trust is a revocable living trust. The settlor is the person who creates the revocable trust. It is essential to know that under a revocable trust, the settlor is also the trustee. Once the revocable trust is established, the settlor transfers assets to the trust.

Too many people make the mistake of believing that merely having a will is enough to avoid probate – it is not. The value of assets exceeding $150,000 is enough to trigger time-consuming probate. And even a single asset that has not been accounted for can require probate. The laws become even stricter when real property is involved. A home left to someone thru a will alone will result in the full probate of that will before the home can pass.

Probate is a trap for the unwary. It can ensnare one’s estate upon death even for uncontested wills. This can plunges the estate into a slow and costly probate process. While this process is foreign and confusing to a layperson, it is a boon to the pockets of estate lawyers.

Once a living trust is established, then specific steps are taken to fund the trust. You can also use beneficiary designations. The property will pass outside of probate. Some misunderstand that everything you own should be retitled to trust. An attorney will properly guide you through the funding process.

There are many ways that assets can be handled to achieve the objective of a probate free world for your intended beneficiaries after your death. A living trust is the best mechanism to avoid probate in California. Our estate attorney can help you avoid probate in California.

Life is full of unexpected developments, both beautiful and challenging. When it comes to your finances, it’s best to prepare for both. Management of your finances is the place to start before you make major purchases. It doesn’t matter if you are buying a bicycle, car, or even a home. Our will and estate lawyers can help you with your plans.

Since at least the 1980’s the revocable living trust has been the preferred choice as the most efficient and flexible vehicle for passing on one’s estate in the most orderly and seamless fashion as possible. Many people make the mistake of believing that having a will alone will avoid probate.