The news often reports about persons in the public eye with fortune and fame that die suddenly without a will or with a terribly outdated estate plan. Because the celebrity with high net worth failed to address who will inherit their assets with a will or trust that...
Real estate is often among the most valuable assets we own. A house purchased a few decades ago may have ballooned in value, making it worth far more than you could have ever imagined. The question is: What should you do with it long-term? Many older adults want to...
If you have an estate plan, you’re doing better than about 50% of Americans, who don’t have a plan in place at all. Good job! Now, have you considered the need to update or amend your plan? You can’t just cross things out and initial your changes. For one thing, you...
We have been talking about the importance of timely estate planning in many of these posts. Obviously it is optimal to plan when we are clear-headed. We also know that grief can cloud thinking. This is why an estate plan, complete with health care directive, can...
Estate planning helps Californians protect their most valued assets, their family and even their pets. For many people, pets are as special as anyone else in their family. If you’re worried about what will happen to your pet if you unexpectedly pass away, become...
If you can’t speak for yourself, how will your loved ones know what you want? The answer to that question is an advance directive, a legal document that explicitly outlines your health care wishes. Despite being a crucial piece of an effective estate plan, most of us...
Many people make the mistake of letting their estate plan sit. Yet, life happens, and you may need to make changes to it that reflect your current circumstances. By knowing when and why you must update your estate plan, you can manage it from a position of strength....
Do you want to begin the estate planning process in California, but don’t know where to start? Don’t worry! At the Law Office of Rodney Gould, we know that the estate planning process can be complicated. But as an experienced lawyer, Rodney Gould, is happy to answer any questions you have.
Choosing an estate planning attorney in California can be confusing, particularly if you’ve never hired a lawyer before. In order to help make this decision a little easier for you, we’ve compiled the following tips to help get you started.
Estate planning is important on so many levels. It is far too easy to keep putting it off. It involves facing some difficult choices and confronting some potentially unpleasant situations such as death or incapacitation. Failure to properly plan for your future, your family’s future, and your estate’s future, however, can have dire consequences.
