San Jose Law Blog

There are a lot of misconceptions circulating about estate planning. Many think that it's only something you do when you have significant assets and older, but that's not true. It's never too early to plan for the future. There are specific estate planning steps that...

You have a massive home library with thousands of books. In the same room is your vinyl collection, with hundreds of records. These are all very valuable and well-loved by your children, so you clearly plan to leave them to the children in your estate plan. However,...

There are many confusing terms that come with estate planning and some of these are important for individuals who are dealing with a situation in which a person passed away intestate, or without a will. One of these terms is “per stirpes.” This term is Latin for “by...

Estate planning often feels like something that your family won't really need for years. Even if you have children and substantial personal assets, you may not want to think about your own death while you're young and healthy. However, when you have children who have...

If you’ve been finding it difficult to be motivated enough to start your estate planning, think of this way: It can change lives. It’s not your own life that you’re thinking about, but those of your loved ones. This is your chance to do something dramatic for them. ...

Your family has spent the last four decades living -- and living well -- off of your company. You started small and built it into a local business empire. It’s very successful and you’re very proud. However, there is only so much you can do in one generation. As you...

Pets or companion animals don't have very many rights under the law. In the eyes of the courts, they are mostly just possessions with a financial value. If you don't take steps now to protect your beloved pets or companion animals in the event of your death, your...

Quite naturally, you want someone that you trust to serve as the executor of your estate -- but being an executor is a big job. It also comes with a number of hazards that your executor may have to face. Many of these risks, however, can be mitigated with a little...

Deciding on what will happen to your estate after you pass can be difficult, but it’s important to remember that you’re probably the most qualified to make the decisions. Your family may have some idea of what’s at stake, but it’s not likely the know the whole...

When designing an estate plan, individuals may explore placing assets into trusts. Trusts tuck high-value assets or property away into an account for designated future use. One popular type of trust is the charitable remainder trust (CRT). CRTs offer families a...