Practical guidance on estate planning, trusts, probate, bankruptcy, and asset protection in California. Published by Maria V. Primushko, Esq.
QTIP trusts, separate vs. community property, and how to ensure every family member is protected in your estate plan.
Probate fees, court costs, family disputes, and lost privacy. Real dollar examples for a $1M estate in California.
Comparing pooled trust structures with individual SNTs. Cost, flexibility, and when to use each option.
The automatic stay, your FDCPA rights, and how Chapter 7 discharge can end collection calls for good.
Cryptocurrency, social media accounts, and California's RUFADAA. How to include digital assets in your trust.
Eligibility rules, look-back periods, irrevocable trusts for Medi-Cal, and spousal protections in California.
Trustee duties, notification requirements under Probate Code 16061.7, asset inventory, and distribution timelines.
Asset protection, estate tax reduction, Medi-Cal planning, and when irrevocable is better than revocable.
Legal vs. physical custody, nomination strategies, backup guardians, and avoiding family disputes in California.
Buy-sell agreements, LLC structuring, key person insurance, and irrevocable life insurance trusts for entrepreneurs.
Advance directives, POLST forms, agent selection, HIPAA authorization, and California's legal requirements.
The 2021 expansion, current LA County limits, automatic vs. declared exemptions, and what homestead protects.
First-party vs. third-party SNTs, pooled trusts, ABLE accounts, and preserving SSI and Medi-Cal benefits.
LLCs, irrevocable trusts, homestead exemptions, and the three-layer asset protection strategy.
When conservatorship is needed, the petition process, court investigations, and alternatives to consider first.
Intestate succession rules, community vs. separate property, and why unmarried partners get nothing.
Eligibility, the means test, discharge timelines, property protection, and California-specific exemptions.
Probate costs 4 to 8% of your estate and takes 12 to 18 months. Here are the strategies to avoid it entirely.
Living trust, pour-over will, power of attorney, healthcare directive, and HIPAA authorization explained.
Understanding revocable living trusts, how they avoid probate, and whether your California family needs one.