We may enjoy watching courtroom drama in movies, TV and on stage, but when it comes to our own lives, most people will do just about anything to avoid an estate battle. Including a “No Contest” provision in a will or living trust is an attempt to preclude challenges to a person’s wishes, and to give anyone who might be thinking about a trust or estate battle a clear warning against doing so, according to the article “Why courts enforce a ‘No Contest’ clause” from The Daily Se

There are many differences between a Will and a Living Trust. When clients begin the estate planning process, an initial decision to be made is whether to center the plan around one or the other, according to The Northside Sun’s article “Do You Have a Will or a Trust? Why?” According to the article, the AARP indicates that most people prefer to use a Living Trust. One of the many differences between a Will and a Living Trust is that a Will operates only after your death. It i

A good estate planning attorney can save your family the stress and expense of court and family feuds that often arise when planning is avoided or done in a hasty fashion. A solid plan that you create (and not the default one provided by the state) will provide tremendous peace of mind to those who are left behind. The sorrow of losing a loved one is more than enough for a family to experience, says NewsGram, in the article “4 Things You Must Know About Estate Planning.” Ther

I’ll admit, deciding how to choose a guardian for your kids isn’t a lot of fun. Who wants to think about a situation where their young children are left to mourn their parents and live with friends or relatives? Nevertheless, choosing a guardian to raise your children and manage their inheritance is a crucial piece of an estate plan if your family includes a minor child. If you don’t do it, you leave the decision to the court. U.S. News and World Report’s recent article “How

As an estate planning attorney, I am often asked (either by existing clients who are considering moving out of California, or by new clients who are moving here to California) “do I need to update my will if I move to a new state?” Anyone who moves to another state, whether for retirement, a new job or to be closer to family, at a bare minimum needs to review their estate plan to make sure it is valid and effective in their new state, advises the Boca Newspaper in the recent

You have likely heard the words “will” and “trust” as part of estate planning. What are the differences between the two, and how do you know which one you need? A will is the most commonly used legal document for leaving instructions about your property after you die. It is also used to name an executor — the person who is in charge of your assets, their distribution, paying taxes and any estate expenses after you die. The will is also very important if you have minor childre

This is never a decision to be made lightly, but we do live in a world where families aren’t always as perfect as their holiday cards. Some blended families never really blend, addictions create huge challenges for families and some individuals are simply family in name only. In that case, says Next Avenue in the article “How to Disinherit a Family Member,” you may choose to disinherit someone. The first step is to work with an experienced estate planning attorney who practic

If you think of estate planning as a gift to your loved ones, and not an obligation, then you will understand why the start of a new year is the perfect time to give your family the peace of mind that an estate plan can bring. The article “Give the gift of estate planning to loved ones this holiday season” from the Brainerd Dispatch describes how stress and guilt for the family can be alleviated just by having a good estate plan in place. Your estate plan will provide your fa