From the moment a child is born, parents feel the pull to protect and provide. We babyproof the house, choose schools carefully, offer guidance through the teenage years, cheer them on through college or career choices, and celebrate their independence. That protective instinct doesn’t stop at emotional or physical care — finances are part of…
As July melts away (faster than an ice cream cone in the sun), we’re squeezing in one last scoop of National Ice Cream Month, and sharing some food for thought on estate planning tips in the process. Just like choosing your favorite ice cream flavor, planning your estate comes with a lot of options. Cone…
In a modern world marked by information overload, overflowing inboxes, nonstop notifications, and the constant pressure to accumulate more stuff, minimalism offers a compelling counternarrative. Born from the mid-twentieth century artistic rebellion and revived in the 2010s on the back of increased digital clutter, climate anxiety, and economic strain, minimalism promises clarity and order based…
In our recent newsletter, Nate Loftin, Esq. highlights Proposition 19 Adjustments and 2025 tax law changes that may impact your California estate plan. Sign up for our newsletter at the link below to stay informed of the latest policy shifts. Proposition 19: Adjusted Exclusion Amount The California State Board of Equalization announced a 2.15% increase…
It’s not a pleasant thought, but making sure that your spouse is taken care of and protected after you are gone is the most important aspect of estate planning. While legal marriage does offer some innate protections, it is still important to consider what tools are available to you so that your spouse is provided…
Simultaneous deaths, the rare occurrence whereby two people who are beneficiaries of each others’ estates die within short succession of each other, can pose a huge wrinkle to even careful estate planning. With the recent notoriety around this possibility due to the deaths of actor Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa, who died within…
The consequences of dying without estate planning, even if it’s just a will, can be catastrophic. Not only is there no guarantee that your assets will be disbursed according to your wishes, there’s no guarantee that they will be disbursed to the inheritors you wish at all. Without proper estate planning, there are considerable risks…
It’s common for those engaging in estate planning to want to leave provisions for the education of their descendants. Higher levels of education have been show to lead to significantly higher wages and decreased risk of unemployment. Those benefits, in turn, usually lead to better outcomes including higher job satisfaction, improved self-esteem, improved access to…