Estate and Tax Planning

Know the Terms: A Simple Glossary for Estate Planning Basics

Estate planning can feel overwhelming, especially when lawyers start tossing around words like probate, trustee, or intestate. If you’ve ever sat through a conversation about your will and felt like…

Estate Planning for Young Families: Wills, Guardians, and Life Insurance

Estate planning is often perceived as a concern primarily for older adults or affluent families, yet for parents of young children, it represents one of the most critical and accessible…

Estate Planning Isn’t as Daunting as You Think — Especially with the Right Guidance

For many, estate planning feels like an overwhelming task, one that’s easy to put off. It’s common to assume the process is complicated, expensive, or only necessary for those with…

Assembly Bill 2016: Why It May Not Work for Most Santa Barbara Residents — and What You Should Know About California’s Probate Changes

Estate planning is about more than just who gets what. It’s about protecting your loved ones, avoiding unnecessary costs, taxes, conflict, and making sure your wishes are honored. Whether you…

California Implements Property Tax Changes for Seniors and Families

February 2021 On November 3rd, Californians voted by a slim margin to pass Proposition 19, the Home Protection for Seniors, Severely Disabled, Families, and Victims of Wildfire and Natural Disasters…

CHANGES IN ESTATE TAX RULES AND THE NEED TO REVIEW YOUR TRUST DOCUMENTS: An issue arising under married couples’ trusts signed prior to 2015

January 2022 Many people create revocable probate avoidance type trusts and then mistakenly believe that they do not need to again look their estate planning documents until a crisis arises.…

Estate Tax Considerations for 2022

The state of California is one of the most taxed in the country when it comes to income taxes. But there is some good news for those concerned about estate…

Avoiding Probate in California

When someone passes away in California, their assets and debtsare administered in accordance with any estate plan adopted by them during their life and, as applicable, California law. A decedent’s…