California Estate Planning Blog

Why Married Couples Should Revisit Their Pre-2013 Documents The new laws implemented in 2013 can make estate planning an extremely complicated and lengthy process. A Big Change in Estate Taxes Estate tax laws have shifted again. As of 2026, each person will be able to leave up to $15 million to heirs without paying federal estate tax—$30 million for a married couple. These amounts will also increase each year with inflation. That’s a huge benefit, but it also means that many

When it comes to planning for end-of-life care, it can be overwhelming to navigate the various forms and documents designed to communicate your medical preferences. Three commonly used tools are an Advance Health Care Directive, a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order, and a Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) form. While each serves a similar purpose of ensuring your medical wishes are honored, they differ in scope and and usage. Understanding the distinctions ca

Did you know that you need to "fund" your trust after it's created? All this means is that you need to put the assets you listed in your trust, inside the trust in order for them to be distributed according to your wishes. Confusing? Read more to find out how easy this often missed part of the planning process can be done easily and quickly!