State Specific Estate Planning Laws for Californians: What You Need to Know By Sandra McCarthy|January 12th, 2022|Estate Planning| Are estate planning laws the same in every state? Definitely not! That's why if you've recently moved from one state to another, let’s say North Dakota to California, you might have some reading about state specific estate planning laws ahead of you. The same goes if you own a business with outlets in many [...] Read More 0
Why and How You Can Plan Your Estate Today By Sandra McCarthy|January 10th, 2022|Estate Planning| According to Forbes, most people avoid estate planning. They might feel they're too busy and will get it done at a later time in their lives. They may also fear the expense. Finally, some people also perceive estate planning as some kind of jinx. If you're like the average Joe, you may prefer to live [...] Read More 0
What Are Letters of Conservatorship in California? By Sandra McCarthy|January 5th, 2022|Probate| What happens when a person becomes incapacitated in California? Are there laws under the California probate code that state how such individuals can receive special care? Yes, of course! Conservatorship is the answer to anything pertaining to the incapacitation of an individual, and letters of conservatorship are an important part of that arrangement. Personal conservators [...] Read More 0
What Is a Joint Managing Conservatorship in California? By Sandra McCarthy|December 29th, 2021|Probate| Conservatorship in California can be a confusing topic. To make things more complex, there are quite a few different types of conservatorships, and their definitions can vary from state to state. One of these—one that seems to invite more confusion than others—is the joint managing conservatorship. If you think a joint managing conservatorship might be [...] Read More 2
Is Conservatorship Valid After Death? By Sandra McCarthy|December 27th, 2021|Probate| Conservatorships are supposed to help folks who are no longer able to take care of themselves. If you have elderly or incapacitated loved ones, this is likely a subject you've encountered before. But what happens to the conservatorship when the incapacitated individual dies? Is conservatorship valid after death? This is a reasonable question if [...] Read More 2
What Is a Sole Managing Conservatorship in California? By Sandra McCarthy|December 22nd, 2021|Probate| From Joni Mitchell to Britney Spears, conservatorships spend quite a bit of time in the spotlight. However, there is more than one type of conservatorship. So, if you're in the position of having to seek out conservatorship options, you may well wonder: What is a sole managing conservatorship in California? There is a lot of [...] Read More 0
6 Critical Estate Planning Tools Explained By Sandra McCarthy|December 20th, 2021|Estate Planning| "Nothing is certain but death and taxes," as Benjamin Franklin famously said. That's why estate planning is so critical; you know life has to end eventually, so you might as well be prepared. To get started, you'll need to know about some of the best estate planning tools. There are plenty of estate planning [...] Read More 0
Conservatorship of a Minor in California: Everything You Need to Know By Sandra McCarthy|December 16th, 2021|Probate| Life isn't perfect. That's why sometimes, someone may need extra help and require another person to lend a hand. And sometimes, that person is a minor. In some states, that's where the conservatorship of a minor comes in. In California, when an adult is subjected to protective care following incapacitation, we call it "conservatorship." But [...] Read More 0
What Is a Murphy Conservatorship? By Sandra McCarthy|December 9th, 2021|Probate| All conservatorships are taken seriously in California, but some are taken more seriously than others. Why? The severity of a conservatorship case is determined by the state of the conservatee or potential conservatee. While we have made other posts explaining the concept of conservatorship, this article will focus on a vital type of conservatorship [...] Read More 0
The 7 Most Common Estate Planning Questions Answered By Sandra McCarthy|December 6th, 2021|Estate Planning| Do you have an estate plan? If you don't and you're in the US, you're one of the more than half of Americans who doesn't have a will. However, this isn't something you want to sweep under the rug. You should prioritize drafting an estate plan for your personal assets. And when you do, [...] Read More 0
10 Benefits of Estate Planning (in California) You Need to Know By Sandra McCarthy|November 29th, 2021|Estate Planning| Plenty of people think estate planning is only for elderly, wealthy individuals. They may think estate planning holds few benefits for those who are younger or of modest means. The truth is, you don't have to be rich and elderly to reap the benefits of estate planning! You can benefit from it right now. [...] Read More 0
What Is a Conservatorship Specialist? By Sandra McCarthy|November 22nd, 2021|Probate| Many people become incapacitated at some point in their lives. This is usually due to old age, protracted illness, or both. And when this occurs, a conservatorship arrangement can help care for the incapacitated individual. If you're a good candidate to become a conservator for a loved one and you're in need of guidance, [...] Read More 0
What Is a Permanent Managing Conservatorship? By Sandra McCarthy|November 15th, 2021|Probate| There are many reasons why someone may be unable to care for themselves. The government knows this, which is why the constitution of most sovereign states or nations makes provisions for people in this category. In the US, when someone is unable to take care of themselves (be it minor or adult), there are [...] Read More 0
Elder Law and Estate Planning: What You Need to Know By Sandra McCarthy|November 10th, 2021|Estate Planning| How do elder law and estate planning compare? Although the two terms go hand in hand, they have significant differences. If you're in a situation where you're dealing with either—perhaps a loved one is getting older, or maybe you yourself are entering your golden years—it's crucial to learn about both. Whatever your reasons, if [...] Read More 0
Digital Assets Estate Planning: What You Need to Know By Sandra McCarthy|November 8th, 2021|Estate Planning| We can't overemphasize the importance of having an estate plan. And while estate planning is as old as personal assets, with the growth of technology over decades past, there’s so much more to talk about. Instead of just giving away your house and car, you now have to consider digital assets estate planning. When [...] Read More 0
How to Create Your Own Estate Planning Flowchart in 7 Easy Steps By Sandra McCarthy|November 3rd, 2021|Estate Planning, Probate| Do you ever procrastinate? Everyone has at some time or another, and estate planning is no exception in this regard. However, estate planning is one of those tasks that you shouldn't put off for long. Estate planning has significant benefits if you become incapacitated or die unexpectedly, leaving behind potential heirs. An estate planning [...] Read More 0
Estate Planning for Blended Families: Our Top Tips By Sandra McCarthy|October 25th, 2021|Estate Planning| Estate planning is essential for any family, be it nuclear or extended. And if estate planning is important for a standard family, how much more important is it be for blended families, with their added members and complexities? Financial and other relevant aspects of a person’s life, when planned carefully in advance, can benefit [...] Read More 0
What Is the Purpose of Making an Estate Plan in California? By Sandra McCarthy|October 18th, 2021|Estate Planning| Many people fear planning for the future. It's hard to blame them; no one likes considering their own mortality. Plus, planning your estate is seen by many as an unnecessary chore. What is the purpose of making an estate plan, anyway? The truth is, as a responsible person, you probably make adequate preparations regarding [...] Read More 0
Estate Planning Solutions: Your Complete Guide By Sandra McCarthy|October 11th, 2021|Estate Planning| Bestselling author Jen Lancaster said, “There’s nothing fun about stuff like estate planning, getting mammograms, or talking to a guy about long-term disability insurance, but do it anyway. Trust me, the stress of not having done the above is prematurely aging.” She makes a good point here. While estate planning may not be fun, [...] Read More 0
What Exactly Is GRAT Estate Planning? By Sandra McCarthy|October 6th, 2021|Estate Planning, Probate| Archbishop Richard Cushing once said, “Always plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.” This statement greatly reflects the importance of planning. People plan for many reasons, but the prominent reason is to make the future easier and less stressful for them. For Noah, that meant building a vessel big enough to [...] Read More 0