California Living Trust Checklist By Sandra McCarthy|March 4th, 2021|Estate Planning| With our living trust preparation checklist, a DIY trust is possible! Plus, by working with a registered legal document assistant such as A People's Choice, you can avoid high attorney's fees for help drafting your trust. Read on for our complete California living trust checklist and to learn more about the necessary actions that come along with writing a trust. Read More 6
Should I make a California living trust? By Sandra McCarthy|February 25th, 2021|Living Trust FAQs| Many individuals choose to create a living trust so their estate can avoid probate upon their death. Oftentimes, probate is an expensive and complicated process that your family has to take care of after you pass. Plus, if you create a living trust, you can make it revocable. In other words, you have the option [...] Read More 0
What is a Living Trust and How to Easily Set It Up in California By Sandra McCarthy|February 3rd, 2021| A living trust allows a person to put their property under the control of a trustee who holds legal title to the property on behalf of a beneficiary. Many individuals choose to create a living trust so their estate can avoid probate upon their death. However, in some cases, a trust may not provide adequate legal protection. If you're wondering if a living trust is right for you, read on to learn more. Read More 0
Comparing Transfer on Death Deeds vs. Living Trusts for Estate Planning – Which is Right for You? By Sandra McCarthy|August 13th, 2020|Estate Planning| Are you considering whether a transfer on death deed or a living trust is right for your estate planning needs? In this article, we outline the benefits of both of these estate planning tools so you can determine which is best for you. However, if you have more questions, always feel free to reach out to A People's Choice to learn more. Read More 6
How Often Should You Update Your Living Trust and Will – And Can You Do it Without a Lawyer? By Sandra McCarthy|August 13th, 2020|Estate Planning| Do you have to update your living trust and will? If so, how often, and under what circumstances? Read on to learn more about revising your living trust and will, and how you can do it WITHOUT hiring an attorney! Then, contact A People's Choice to inquire about our estate planning services. Read More 6
How to Create a Living Trust By Sandra McCarthy|July 24th, 2020|Estate Planning| Thinking about creating a living trust? In this article, we outline the three easy steps to setting up a living trust with A People's Choice. Plus, find out if a living trust is right for you! Read More Comments Off on How to Create a Living Trust
What is Funding a Living Trust and Why Is It Important? By Sandra McCarthy|April 12th, 2020|Estate Planning| You're probably familiar with the concept of a living trust, but there's an important step that comes after signing the trust. Read on to learn more about the process of funding a living trust and what consequences you may face if you fail to do so. Read More 4
Prepare Living Trust Without Attorney Using Legal Document Assistant Service By Sandra McCarthy|March 26th, 2020|Personal| As we get older, we tend to spend more time thinking about our estate plans, what we leave to our children, and our legacy. However, oftentimes the cost of preparing estate plan paperwork with an attorney pushes this item to the back burner. Looking to prepare a living trust for a fraction of the cost? Here is the story of how one woman did just that - and saved $500! Read More Comments Off on Prepare Living Trust Without Attorney Using Legal Document Assistant Service
How to Amend a Living Trust By Sandra McCarthy|April 10th, 2018|Estate Planning| Need to amend a living trust? A People’s Choice offers non-attorney estate planning services and can help to amend your living trust. You can save hundreds of dollars to amend a living trust by using a regisered legal document assistant rather than hiring a lawyer. Here are the steps you need to amend a living trust. Read More Comments Off on How to Amend a Living Trust
Revocable Trust By vitalinbound|March 1st, 2021| California Revocable Trust Estate Plan Establish your living trust estate plan today A revocable trust is often the most important part of a person’s estate plan. Also known as a living trust, a revocable trust: Enables the estate to avoid probate in California Will avoid a court conservatorship in case [...] Read More Comments Off on Revocable Trust
Trust Package By vitalinbound|March 1st, 2021| California Living Trust Estate Plan Package Establish your living trust estate plan today Our all-inclusive estate planning document package provides you with peace of mind knowing all your bases are covered. A complete estate plan is a group of documents that defines: Who receives your possessions when you pass away [...] Read More Comments Off on Trust Package
Why have a trust? By Sandra McCarthy|February 12th, 2021|Estate Planning FAQs, Living Trust FAQs| The biggest benefit of having a trust is that it avoids probate. In California, estates with real property or estates valued over $166,250 usually have to be settled through some type of formal court probate process. This process is very costly and can take from 5 to 7 months to complete. With a trust, administration [...] Read More 0
Revocable Trusts in California: An Estate Plan for Every Budget By Sandra McCarthy|February 7th, 2021|Estate Planning| When you hear about trusts in the context of estate planning, you probably think about trust fund babies and about sums of money that are so big that they cannot logically belong to individuals, much less to young people. Surprisingly, revocable trusts, also known as living trusts, can also offer many benefits to the 99%. If the value of your property is high enough that you do not qualify for any of the California simplified probate alternatives, then you could probably save your family members a lot of money by setting up a revocable trust. The good news is that revocable trusts in California do not have to be expensive to set up! You can save yourself a lot of money by having a California non-attorney legal document assistant prepare your revocable trust documents, instead of an estate planning lawyer. Read More Comments Off on Revocable Trusts in California: An Estate Plan for Every Budget
Should You Use a Trust to Protect Your Assets from Creditors? By Sandra McCarthy|August 11th, 2020|Estate Planning| Are you considering using a trust to protect your assets from creditors? Be sure to read this FIRST! Many of our clients don't realize that they will need an irrevocable living trust to protect their property. However, irrevocable trusts are costly and may have more disadvantages than benefits. In fact, using an irrevocable trust means giving up all rights to your assets! Read More Comments Off on Should You Use a Trust to Protect Your Assets from Creditors?
What is a California Trust Restatement? By Sandra McCarthy|May 29th, 2020|Estate Planning| If you need to make changes to your living trust, you can either amend the original document or create a new document with a California trust restatement. Read on to learn more about when a restatement is advised, and the benefits of restating a living trust. Then, be sure to contact A People's Choice to learn how we can help. Read More Comments Off on What is a California Trust Restatement?
Why You Should Transfer Real Property Into A Trust By Sandra McCarthy|April 25th, 2020|Estate Planning| Transferring real property into a trust helps avoid probate, estate taxes, guardianship or conservatorship, and much more. If you're worried about what will happen to your assets after your death, considering transferring your property into a trust. This act could help save your loved ones from stress and difficulty when settling your estate. Read More 2
Benefits of Restating a Trust By Sandra McCarthy|August 12th, 2019|Estate Planning| If you have thought at all about estate planning, congratulations! You have already saved your family lots of hassle and expense. If you have set up a living trust, even better; you are very well prepared. However, even the best-laid plans sometimes change. When this happens, you might find yourself in the position of restating a trust. Read More Comments Off on Benefits of Restating a Trust
Steps to Settle Revocable Trust After Trustee’s Death By Sandra McCarthy|July 21st, 2019|Estate Planning| To settle revocable trust assets after the trustee's death, you will follow a process similar to probating a will but without the court process. With this in mind, there are a few differences you must know. The successor trustee must follow specific steps to handle this process correctly. If you leave anything out, then the revocable trust may not be settled. A People's Choice can help you navigate the sometimes complicated process of how to settle a revocable trust after the trustee's death. Read More 4
Special Needs Trust and California ABLE Accounts for People with Disabilities By Sandra McCarthy|June 1st, 2019|Estate Planning| In order for a disabled person to receive disability benefits, such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid, he/she must demonstrate that he/she needs the income to live independently. Any assets, even gifts from family members, may be counted against him/her, and could reduce his/her benefits. There are two ways that family members can contribute to a disabled person without those contributions affecting their benefits- special needs trusts and California ABLE accounts. Read More Comments Off on Special Needs Trust and California ABLE Accounts for People with Disabilities
Can You Trust Online Legal Services Companies? By Sandra McCarthy|October 21st, 2018|California Courts| Recently, there has been a rise in online legal services. These sites offer a range of services from document preparation for a flat fee to monthly subscription services where you can get periodic legal advice and basic legal documents prepared. These sites are gaining in popularity because they offer a faster low-cost alternative than hiring an attorney. But are they really a good idea and can you trust online legal services? How do you pick a good online legal service? Here's what you need to know if you are looking for help preparing legal documents. Read More Comments Off on Can You Trust Online Legal Services Companies?