by Santiago Olivares | Jun 10, 2026 | Estate Planning, Living Will, Living Trust, Usa, California, Guardianship, crisis, Conservatorship, trustee, beneficiary designations, Inheritance, Elder, illness
When families begin noticing signs of parent cognitive decline, waiting too long to plan can create legal, financial, and emotional challenges. Adult children can help protect aging parents by encouraging early estate planning, updating powers of attorney, reviewing... 
by Crista Hermance | Jun 3, 2026 | beneficiary designations, Inheritance, wills, Estate Planning
A mortgage does not automatically disappear when someone dies. In most cases, the loan remains attached to the property, and heirs must decide whether to continue making payments, refinance, sell the home, or transfer it through a trust or probate process.... 
by Crista Hermance | Jun 3, 2026 | Trust, trustee, mistakes, beneficiary designations, Parenting, Estate Planning
One of the most common estate planning mistakes parents make is adding their oldest child to a bank account for convenience. While it may seem like a simple solution, this decision can unintentionally disinherit other children, create inheritance disputes, and lead to... 
by Crista Hermance | May 27, 2026 | Estate Planning, California, Trust, beneficiary designations, executor, Living Trust, Trust administration
Yes, under certain circumstances, beneficiaries may be able to remove a trustee in California—including a sibling serving as trustee. Trust disputes often arise when beneficiaries believe the trustee is acting unfairly, hiding information, delaying distributions, or... 
by Crista Hermance | May 27, 2026 | Trust, Business, beneficiary designations, executor
A joint bank account after death does not always work the way families expect in California. In many situations, the surviving account holder automatically keeps access to the account. However, inheritance disputes, probate concerns, trust conflicts, and family... 
by Crista Hermance | May 11, 2026 | Trust, Business, beneficiary designations, Inheritance, Transfer, California, Estate Planning
High net worth estate planning involves far more than creating a simple will or trust. Families in Ventura County and across Southern California often face unique risks involving real estate, taxes, business ownership, lawsuits, and generational wealth transfer....
