Getting your affairs in order is more about logistics than sentiment. The people acting on your behalf will need two things: legal authority and reliable information. Without both, even simple matters can stall. Begin while you are fully competent. Consider what documents you have Your first step should be to assess whether you have […]
Trusts
The Most Important Role In Your Estate Plan
Who is your successor trustee? So this is the person who is paying bills, selling property, gathering your assets to pay for a long-term care need, or if you’ve passed away, distributing it to the people in your family. And this isn’t any small job and it isn’t something you should just pick your […]
Including Grandchildren In Your Estate Plan
Hey there, my name is Bridget MacKay. I’m an attorney at MacKay Dressler here in Petaluma, California. And today I want to talk a little bit about giving to your grandchildren through your trust. This is a question I get often in client meetings where grandparents want to leave something directly to grandchildren. And […]
Can You Turn Down an Inheritance?
When people think about receiving an inheritance, they usually picture an unexpected financial windfall or a cherished family heirloom. Society teaches us to view any inheritance as a gift, and the automatic assumption is that everyone will gladly accept it. However, life is rarely that simple. In the real world, receiving an inheritance can come […]
Pet Planning: Protecting Your Furry Family Members
Hi everybody, my name is Bridget MacKay, I’m with MacKay Dressler law firm. And today’s topic is kind of fun. We’re going to talk about pets and how we take care of pets in our estate plan. Some of you might be going, ” What, is that even a possibility?” And I’m going to […]
Protect What You Leave to Your Heirs
If you want your money to go to the people you choose and avoid unnecessary tax losses, consider how your assets are structured and which planning tools you implement. These factors can significantly affect how much of your estate is preserved and reaches your intended beneficiaries. Because different assets are treated differently under the […]
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