Estate planning outcomes are controlled not only by documents, but by how assets are titled and classified. This category analyzes California community property rules, transmutation requirements, joint ownership structures, trust funding mechanics, business interests, and non-probate transfers. The emphasis is on preventing legal conflict, tax inefficiency, and distribution errors caused by misaligned ownership and estate planning strategy.
Randall’s daughter, Donovan, discovered a handwritten will tucked inside her father’s safe after his passing. Unfortunately, the will lacked proper witness signatures and was deemed invalid by the court. Even more problematic, a significant portion of Randall’s estate consisted of…
Randall’s daughter, Terri, discovered a devastating oversight after his passing. He’d meticulously drafted a trust to provide for his grandchildren’s education, but the brokerage account funding that trust hadn’t been properly titled in the name of the trust. The result?…
