Absolute Trust Counsel | Walnut Creek Estate Planning Attorney Blog
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Personalized California Estate Law – Preparing for your future doesn’t have to be stressful or difficult. Our skilled attorneys and staff have extensive experience in all areas of estate planning and administration, and we understand how important your estate is to you and your family. Our first priority is our clients’ well being, and we take great pride in structuring the most..
Absolute Trust Counsel | Walnut Creek Estate Planning Attorney Blog
15h ago
Family conflict after a loved one has passed is very common, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be avoided. In our years of experience in estate planning, we’ve seen many different scenarios play out and have a thorough understanding of the nuances that tend to cause these conflicts. The number one reason for disputes over a trust lies in the feeling that it is not fairly divided. While Mom and Dad or Aunt Sally can set up their estate however they wish, often, a simple conversation with family can go a long way to clarify why certain decisions were made.
In this episode of Absolute Trust talk ..read more
Absolute Trust Counsel | Walnut Creek Estate Planning Attorney Blog
2w ago
Welcome back! In our last episode of Absolute Trust Talk, we were joined by expert psychotherapist and certified coach Tess Brigham, MFT, BCC, to discuss the differences between generations and, more specifically, examine the unique dynamics between Baby Boomer parents and Millennial children.
In this episode, we continue our conversation with Tess, focusing on the interactions between Gen X parents and Gen Z children. These two generations are very interesting as Gen Xers were heavily influenced by events like the Persian Gulf War, the women’s movement, and high divorce rates. As Tess poi ..read more
Absolute Trust Counsel | Walnut Creek Estate Planning Attorney Blog
1M ago
Recently, the entertainment world has been abuzz with numerous high-profile conservatorship battles, and the latest to emerge involves iconic singer Cher. She has initiated a conservatorship petition concerning her son, Elijah Blue Allman, aiming to oversee the financial benefits he inherits from his father, the late Greg Allman’s trust. Legal filings state the urgent need for a conservator to safeguard Elijah’s estate against potential damages or losses, citing his inability to manage his finances due to significant mental health and substance abuse challenges. Tune into a new episode of ..read more
Absolute Trust Counsel | Walnut Creek Estate Planning Attorney Blog
1M ago
In the realm of estate planning, a will without a trust stands as an important document, orchestrating the distribution of assets and the fulfillment of wishes after one’s passing. In California, the statutory will serve as a convenient template for many individuals seeking to outline their testamentary intentions. While there are times when a statutory will may be sufficient – for example, it is better than an emergency handwritten (or holographic) will, relying solely on a statutory will can leave gaps and oversights in your estate plan. Let’s explore eight reasons why a California statutory ..read more
Absolute Trust Counsel | Walnut Creek Estate Planning Attorney Blog
1M ago
When you think of the Beach Boys, what comes to mind? We’re betting it’s not a complicated conservatorship case. Unfortunately, that’s what’s happening with the Beach Boys Founder, Brian Wilson. Mr. Wilson’s long-time wife had been his healthcare directive, but with her recent passing, it was discovered that no one was ever named as a backup. Now, the question is not only who will pick up her role as Mr. Wilson’s healthcare directive, but how. With Brian Wilson being considered unable to make these decisions for himself due to dementia, the solution is not a simple one. Tune in to learn mo ..read more
Absolute Trust Counsel | Walnut Creek Estate Planning Attorney Blog
2M ago
At Absolute Trust Counsel, one of the pieces of advice we like to shout from the roof tops is that people need to keep their estate plans up to date! We constantly find people who fail to do so. In many cases, we can fix the challenges that arise, but sometimes, it may not be possible, and we must navigate a more difficult path. In this specific episode, we are going to focus on AB Trusts and the issues that typically arise.
It happens more than you might think – often, when a spouse dies, the widow(er) later finds out their joint trust is set up in a way that requires them to split the trus ..read more
Absolute Trust Counsel | Walnut Creek Estate Planning Attorney Blog
2M ago
You may have heard the recent news that Jay Leno filed a conservatorship over his wife, Mavis Leno’s estate. The couple does not have an estate plan, and his goal is to gain special permission from the court to set up a plan for both of them. As Kirsten and Madison point out, the main issue is not what happens if Mavis dies but instead if Jay were to die first. Given that Mavis is already incapacitated, who will manage their assets and decision-making? We hope you will join us for this discussion that underscores just how important it is to have an estate plan in place to avoid the costly a ..read more
Absolute Trust Counsel | Walnut Creek Estate Planning Attorney Blog
2M ago
At Absolute Trust Counsel, one of the pieces of advice we like to shout from the roof tops is that people need to keep their estate plans up to date! We constantly find people who fail to do so. In many cases, we can fix the challenges that arise, but sometimes, it may not be possible, and we must navigate a more difficult path. In this specific episode, we are going to focus on AB Trusts and the issues that typically arise.
It happens more than you might think – often, when a spouse dies, the widow(er) later finds out their joint trust is set up in a way that requires them to split the trus ..read more
Absolute Trust Counsel | Walnut Creek Estate Planning Attorney Blog
2M ago
Many people believe that everything automatically passes to their spouse upon their death, regardless of how property is titled or any estate planning documents prepared. In some cases, this may be true. However, there are several situations where this may not be the case, and the surviving spouse may either not receive the property or may experience difficulty gaining access to the property, even if the deceased spouse intended that their surviving spouse receives everything.
To begin this discussion, it is important to understand the difference between separate property and community propert ..read more
Absolute Trust Counsel | Walnut Creek Estate Planning Attorney Blog
2M ago
If you’ve been following along with our show, you know that we can’t stress enough the importance of estate planning and setting up a trust to make things simple, cost-effective, and less time-consuming for your heirs. But even with the most comprehensive and well-thought-out estate plan, wrinkles can be thrown into the plan. It’s a lot of information for all parties involved to consume, and there are many moving parts.
One curveball we’ve seen a few times before is a beneficiary, trustee, or executor dying before the will or trust is enacted. Everyone tuning in to this podcast has probably ..read more