Tag Archives: Living Trust

Adding Your Child to Your Bank Account is Not Such a Great Idea

A common means of avoiding probate is to put your child’s name on all of your accounts. This can create some serious problems, not least of which is if a creditor goes after your child’s assets and is able to … Continue reading






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Can I Avoid Probate of My House by Holding It in Joint Tenancy?

  Joint tenancy might be a convenient estate planning shortcut, but it also brings some undesirable risks. Joint tenancy is a form of ownership of property where two or more people hold title to the property with right of survivorship, … Continue reading






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What Is So Bad About Probate and Why Should It Be Avoided? – Estate Planning Basics

  Again it is time to get back to basics. Avoiding probate is a primary reason to set up a living trust instead of a will . There are several reasons to avoid probate, and in California particularly the reasons … Continue reading






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What are the Benefits of a Living Trust? – Estate Planning Basics

  It is time again to get back to basics. You want an estate plan, but why go to the trouble of setting up a living trust? It may not be a good fit for everyone, but a living trust … Continue reading






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What is a Living Trust? – Estate Planning Basics

  It is time to get back to basics. “Trusts” or “living trusts” are confusing words for many setting up estate plans. Some think a trust is synonomous with a will. Others believe a trust is better than a will, … Continue reading






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Hidden Perils of Refinancing

Be informed when refinancing a home in a living trust. The secret is out. Refinancing contains hidden perils for homes in revocable trusts. Recently I received a call from a client who fortunately had the good sense to question what … Continue reading






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Unfunded Trusts: Pitfalls for the Unwary

Funding the Trust is an essential but often overlooked step towards avoiding a lengthy and expensive probate.  Creating a trust instrument, with all of the appropriate instructions, provisos and expressions of intent, is worse than useless if no step is … Continue reading






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