The loss of a loved one usually ushers in a period of grief and other heightened emotions. If your loved one appointed you to be the Executor of the estate, however, you must also concentrate on the practical and legal ramifications of the decedent’s death. Probating an estate can be a complex and time-consuming endeavor, which is why many Executors choose to retain an experienced probate attorney to help them through the process. If you find yourself responsible for probating an estate, the … [Read more...] about 5 Reasons to Hire a Lawyer to Help You Probate an Estate
How Do I Become My Father’s Guardian?
Few things in life are more heart-wrenching than watching a parent’s physical or mental deterioration. For an adult child it can be extremely difficult to accept that the strong, capable parent you once knew is now at a point where he or she cannot safely care for himself or himself or make decisions. If you find yourself facing this reality, it may be time to consider a conservatorship. The Riverside conservatorship attorneys at Sandoval Legacy Group explain how you legally become a … [Read more...] about How Do I Become My Father’s Guardian?
5 Steps for an Executor to Take Control As Soon As Possible
After the death of a loved one, it is completely normal to experience a wide range of heightened emotions. If you are currently going through this emotional time period, the last thing you want to do is focus on the legal consequences of your loved one’s death. However, if you were appointed to be the Executor of the estate in the decedent’s Last Will and Testament, you will need to do just that because your loved one has trusted you to oversee the probate process. Time is of the essence … [Read more...] about 5 Steps for an Executor to Take Control As Soon As Possible
How to Protect Business Assets in Your Estate Plan
If you are one of the millions of Americans for whom owning a small business is part of the American dream, don’t forget to include that business in your comprehensive estate plan. After all, you undoubtedly invested a considerable amount of your time, energy, and resources into building your business. The Riverside business succession lawyers at Sandoval Legacy Group offer some common tips for how to protect your business assets in your estate plan. The Importance of Protecting Your Business … [Read more...] about How to Protect Business Assets in Your Estate Plan
Can My Non-Citizen Spouse Inherit from My Estate?
Over the last several decades, however, national borders have all but disappeared, leading to a dramatic increase in cross-border marriages in the United States. In fact, the United States Census Bureau reports that one in five marriages in the U.S. today includes a spouse born outside the U.S. Of those marriages, about 60 percent of the foreign-born spouses have become naturalized citizens, leaving the remaining 40 percent as non-citizens. If you are married to a non-citizen, estate planning … [Read more...] about Can My Non-Citizen Spouse Inherit from My Estate?
Planning for Step-Children
Planning for Blended Families Many of our clients are blended, with children of the husband, children of the wife and/or children from both spouses. Estate planning for blended families can require special planning. You may consider your step children to be your own. But, if you haven’t adopted them, they have no inheritance rights. Below is a link to an excellent article from the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys about estate planning involving step children. Planning for … [Read more...] about Planning for Step-Children
What Happens to Your Retirement Account When You Die?
Most workers in the U.S. no longer count on employer-sponsored pensions to fund their retirement. Instead, many of them rely on self-funded retirement options such as Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), 401(k)s, and other tax-deferred retirement accounts. An IRA is a tax-advantaged retirement account that you own and control. Earnings generated can compound on a tax-deferred basis until withdrawal. In essence, an IRA is like having your own personal pension that you and/or your employer may … [Read more...] about What Happens to Your Retirement Account When You Die?
Don’t Forget to Update Your Estate Plan after a Divorce
Creating a comprehensive estate plan is one of the most meaningful gifts you can give to both your loved ones and yourself over the course of your lifetime. Don’t make the mistake of stopping there though. Once that plan is in place, it needs to be reviewed and updated on a routine basis. It may also need to be updated when certain events call for a revision. For example, a Riverside estate planning lawyer explains the importance of updating your estate plan following a divorce. Routine Reviews … [Read more...] about Don’t Forget to Update Your Estate Plan after a Divorce
Do I Need an Attorney to Help Me Administer a Trust?
Were you recently informed that someone named you as the Trustee of a trust he or she created? If this appointment came as a surprise to you, you are not alone. Ideally, when a trust is created, the trust creator should discuss the position with a potential Trustee before naming that person in the trust agreement. Unfortunately, however, that doesn’t always happen. Now that you find yourself as a Trustee, do you need an attorney to help you? The Riverside trust lawyers at Sandoval Legacy Group, … [Read more...] about Do I Need an Attorney to Help Me Administer a Trust?
How Do I Become My Mother’s Conservator?
For an adult child, it can be heart-wrenching to watch a parent succumb to the physical and mental deterioration that often accompanies the aging process. If you find yourself in that position, and you have reached the point where you are genuinely concerned for your mother’s safety, it may be time to consider petitioning for conservatorship. If you are unfamiliar with the concept, a Riverside conservatorship lawyer explains what it means to become your mother’s conservator and how the process … [Read more...] about How Do I Become My Mother’s Conservator?
