Besides Wills, trusts are arguably the most popular (and commonly used) documents for California estate planners. Trusts allow grantors to pool assets into one place and write specific instructions for trustees on distributing those assets. The main reason for creating trusts is the ability to avoid probate, a somewhat long and expensive legal process.  Not all trusts, however, allow the grantor’s loved ones Read More

Glimmers of hope concerning COVID-19 have begun to show up here and there. While health professionals have predicted a challenging winter, you or your children’s co-parent might be looking at visiting family during the holiday season. After all, the winter holidays are best spent with warm family members and loved ones. Before you book those plane tickets, though, make sure the trip checks all the legal Read More

In short, yes. No matter how carefully you craft your estate plan—Wills, trusts, powers of attorney—life is full of changes. Estate planners should periodically review their documents to ensure their goals are still being fulfilled. If planners need to update, modify, or revoke their estate planning documents, there are procedures available to do so while the planner has capacity. The exact procedure to be used, Read More

The destruction of the concept of time and our normal routines is but one major impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, it’s probably hard to believe that the kids are already back in school. We understand how difficult the past year-and-a-half has been for co-parents across California, and starting a new school year can exacerbate existing issues and create new ones. Now, here are some ways to have a great Read More

During the pandemic, many of us watched I Care a Lot, the at-times horrifying Netflix thriller about a predatory professional guardian, Marla Grayson. Marla made a career out of petitioning friendly judges to grant her guardianship of elderly people who supposedly needed help managing their finances and physical well-being. With the help of an equally corrupt physician, Marla sought out independently wealthy seniors Read More

A lot was going on in the November 2020 election. One proposition that made its way onto ballots in California—and was narrowly approved by voters—was Proposition 19. This measure, which went into effect on Feb. 16, 2021, makes several changes to the state’s property tax rules. Many estate planners who own homes in California need to be aware of the restrictions Proposition 19 puts on inheritors of California Read More

Even in normal (non-pandemic) circumstances, our lives can change so much from year to year. We can anticipate some of these changes, but life is mostly about adapting to changes. Those who have children with an ex understand the need for modifying one or more court orders that have to do with the children’s care. Children’s needs change, and parents sometimes aren’t able to provide the same level of support as they Read More

A trust is an incredibly useful estate planning tool for many Californians. While there are many different types of trusts, one of the main purposes of a trust is to have a separate owner for assets that are placed (funded) into the trust. The trustee manages the assets in the trust and distributes them to beneficiaries as laid out in the trust’s instructions.  A commonly used trust in the U.S. is a special Read More

Readying your finances for divorce is one of the most important things to do before you file the divorce petition and serve your spouse with the papers. While you need to make sure you have enough to make ends meet during the legal proceedings, it doesn’t hurt to keep an eye on your post-divorce life. Our guide below can help you get up to speed on the important financial considerations. 1. Track your expenses. To Read More

When you’re in the middle of divorce proceedings, anything having to do with your life beyond the present and immediate future could be far from your mind. And, that’s completely understandable. Anthoor Law Group completely understands the emotions and feelings you’re experiencing, as we have helped countless people navigate these difficult times. It’s important, however, not to forget about your estate Read More