Welcome to Regnum Legal’s estate planning articles. Who are these articles for?
- Beginners wondering “do I need an estate plan?”
- Persons who already have an estate plan and want to learn more about how their plan works, other options available to them, or how to amend their estate plan.
- Persons with large estates (over $11,000,000) who know they need an estate plan, and maybe already have an estate plan, but would like to learn about tax benefits and estate tax savings options.
- People who want to create a legacy for their family to last generations.
- General estate planning enthusiasts.
The bottom line, if you are interested in what estate planning is, how it works, and options available, these articles are for you.
- Is it Possible to Avoid Probate with a Will?
This article will discuss whether a Will is enough to avoid probate. As you will see below, the simple answer is, no. A will does not avoid probate. A will - Top 11 Mistakes To Avoid When Picking Life Insurance Beneficiaries
Picking a life insurance beneficiary seems straight forward and simple. But there are common mistakes a lot of people make that cost thousands. . . - Your Definitive Probate Bond Guide
Probate is difficult already, but when a court orders you to get a probate bond, what do you do? Look no further? - Trustee Pay: How Much is Too Much?
Usually trustees are allowed to receive compensation for their work. But how much is too much? Find out! - Top 10 Awesome Benefits of Irrevocable Trusts
The benefits of an irrevocable trust far outweigh the expense and effort it takes to create them. Here’s why. - Complete Irrevocable Trust Deductions Tax Guide
There are significant irrevocable trust deductions that you cannot afford to overlook. - How to Know if Your Advance Directive is Still Valid
It may have been years since you filled out an advanced health care directive. Many people prepare their advance directive and then put it away in a drawer with their - When Does a Revocable Living Trust Become Irrevocable?
Sometimes the term “revocable living trust” seems like a misnomer. Your revocable living trust will not stay revocable forever. A revocable trust can become irrevocable but never the other way - 15 Essential Duties of a Trustee Explained
There are 15 duties of a trustee that every trustee and beneficiary must know. The duty that gets trustees sued the most is. . . - 7 IRS Rules That May Make Your Trust a Disregarded Entity
If you created a trust for tax avoidance or asset protection, these seven IRS rules on disregarded entities are essential. Rule 1, never . . . - How Does Per Stirpes Distribution Impact Your Grandchildren
One of the most common ways to distribute in the state is “per stirpes.” Per stirpes distribution dramatically affects your grandchildren if. . . - Per Stirpes vs. Pro-Rata: What’s the Difference
When distributing an estate is is easy to be confused by the difference between per stirpes vs. pro-rata. The two phrases are different but interrelated. - Per Stirpes Definition with Infographic, Charts, and Examples
Distributing an estate “per stirpes” can have a significant impact on how downline generations receive their distributions. If a child dies. . . - Understanding Los Angeles Superior Court Probate Notes
An expert guide to finding, reading, and understanding Los Angeles Superior Court Probate Notes. This post uses real life examples of probate notes to . . . - Coronavirus: The Only Paper That Should Concern You Is Your Estate Plan
55% of Americans do not have an Estate Plan. With that statistic fresh in my mind, I looked at recent Coronavirus statistics. I was shocked. . . - 7 Advantages of a Revocable Living Trust That You Need to Know
I’ve been an estate planning lawyer for 8 years and I’ve distilled my knowledge into 7 must know advantages of a revocable living trust. They are . . . - What is Probate and Why Avoid It?
Both lawyers and non-lawyers often ask, what is probate? In this post I will answer this question and demonstrate why you should avoid probate. - What is a Trust?
Most estate planners recommend that you get a living trust but do a poor job of explaining exactly what a trust is. Not many people know that a Trust . . . - California Court Rewrites Estate Plan After Drafting Error
Proper drafting of an estate plan is essential and saves you thousands of dollars. California courts can rewrite your estate plan if there is an error. - How to Probate a Will in 11 Detailed Steps
Ever wondered how to probate a will in California? This step-by-step resource will show you what documents you need, and how to do it.