US-Based Trustee A Foreign Beneficiary of a US Trust is a person who lives outside of the US and is named as the beneficiary of the Trust. If you are a foreign beneficiary, contact the US Trustee to get your distribution. The Trustee handles the Trust and its distribution. After the death of the grantor, … Continued
Losing a loved one is always difficult, and there are often additional challenges after someone’s passing when sorting through the decedent’s affairs. When someone dies, their assets are evaluated by the probate court so beneficiaries and outstanding debts are identified. The first document the probate courts request is a Last Will. In the case no … Continued
Protect Yourself Assets take a lifetime to accumulate but can be lost in an instant. We often see people who have worked hard all their lives lose some or all of their assets due to lawsuits, bankruptcy, creditors, family accidents, or other unfortunate circumstances. These risks are common, but that doesn’t mean they have to be yours if you take the right precautions. The Myth, The Legend, The Protection Asset protection aims to ensure … Continued
The Innocent Trust Fund Baby For a long time, many people believe that those born to wealthy families have it easy. That money is no longer a concern for them, and that they have trust funds to support their money problems. We may need to take a step-back to learn the basics of a Trust … Continued
Who is the Personal Representative? A personal representative is the person who represents the estate of a person who died without a Last Will, or intestate. The Probate Court has the duty to select the person best suited to take the responsibility. The descendants can not choose the person but they can nominate someone … Continued
Understanding Probate In order to differentiate between the types of assets which will undergo probate, and those which will not, it is imperative to understand what probate entails. Probate is a legal procedure that occurs when someone dies. The probate court will assess the decedent’s assets and proceed in accordance to the decedent’s Last Will, … Continued
Probate Who? You’ve heard about probate, but do you actually know what it is? Do you hear positive or negative things about probate? Who goes through probate? Probate is the legal procedure that occurs when someone dies affecting their assets. The probate court evaluates and distributes these assets. The first step in probate … Continued
Understanding Trust Funds Do you know what a Trust Fund is? If not, you are not alone. Many think of a Trust Fund as a tool accessible only for the rich. It serves as a complex financial tool to protect their wealth. Yes, Trust Funds can be useful for wealth preservation, but the truth is, … Continued
Estate Planning is an Essential Do you often hear the term “estate plan” in conversations with friends, colleagues, or family members? Estate planning is a crucial topic, especially as we age. It offers a comprehensive strategy to safeguard your finances and health, providing peace of mind. Regardless of your age, creating an estate plan early … Continued
Probate Process Did you know that the probate process varies depending on the type of estate? Small estates have a separate probate process that is often overlooked, but many estates actually qualify for it. Qualifications In California, certain criteria determine whether an estate qualifies for the small estate probate process. The first requirement is … Continued