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California is one of a handful of states that honor community property rights. This means, in general, that anything acquired during the time of marriage, whether property or debt, belongs equally to both spouses or partners.

We’ve all seen televised dramas in which a serious-looking gentleman sits behind a desk in an oak-paneled study and reads the contents of someone’s last will and testament to an audience of heirs and would-be beneficiaries.

A last will and testament (a will) is the basic building block of estate planning. This legal document enables the testator, or the person creating it, to designate who gets what assets when they’re gone.

A living trust is an alternative to a last will and testament that accomplishes the same goal of distributing assets to beneficiaries upon one’s death but also has the added advantage of avoiding probate proceedings. The person creating the trust is called the settlor or grantor, who remains the trustee while he or she is alive. The settlor transfers all assets into the trust and then manages them while he or she is alive.

Probate can involve some of the most complex legal proceedings of any civil case. Below are some of the most

Trustees are given near-complete control over the assets that are placed into a trust. Accordingly, strict rules

Trust litigation is the process of bringing legal action against a trustee for breach of trust. It is the fiduciary

When someone close to you dies, you are likely to face challenges as you adjust to the change. If you are responsible

A trust is an important tool in estate planning used to manage assets and outline distribution stipulations

In this episode of Your Inheritance with Peter Bochnewich, we welcome guest Dick Pfister, CAIA, CEO & Founder