Entering the world of Wills, Trusts and probate can be confusing. One of the first questions people often ask is: what is the difference between a Trustee and an Executor? To put it simply, a Trustee is the person who oversees a Trust, while an Executor is the person who oversees a Will, which often
assets
Can a Minor be a Beneficiary of a Trust?
Minors in California (people under the age of 18) cannot own assets directly. Minors must own assets through a guardian. However, minors can be Trust beneficiaries. Typically, when a Trust is established with minor beneficiaries, the Trust terms require the minors’ shares to be held in Trust rather than distributed outright.
Trust shares for minor…
Accounting of Trust Assets
How do Trust beneficiaries know how much they are entitled to? Often, rather than stating a specific dollar amount for each beneficiary, the Trust will state that each beneficiary is entitled to a certain percentage of the Trust estate. This can cause frustration if the Trustee will not provide the value of the Trust assets.…
Are Beneficiaries Liable for Trust Debts?
Who is liable for Trust debts? Is it the Trustee, the Beneficiaries, or the Trust itself? It helps to remember that a Trust is a separate legal entity. The Trustees and beneficiaries are not personally liable for debts owed by the Trust.
The Trustee is acting in a fiduciary capacity. The Trustee is…
Is Inheritance Taxable in California?
Generally speaking, inheritance is not subject to tax in California. If you are a beneficiary, you will not have to pay tax on your inheritance. There are a few exceptions, such as the Federal estate tax. However, an estate must exceed $11.58 million dollars per person in 2020 to be subject to estate tax…
What is a Living Trust?
A Trust is an entity that holds assets. Living Trusts are set up to benefit the Trust creators, (also referred to as the “Settlors,” or “Grantors,”) during their lifetimes. Living Trusts also provide the terms for management and distribution of the assets once the Grantors pass away.
Living Trusts are typically drafted by an…
Step-Mommy Dearest…Can my Step-Mom Change my Father’s Will After my Father Dies?
THE FOLLOWING IS A TRANSCRIPT OF THIS VIDEO. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CLICK HERE
Hi, this is Keith Davidson at Albertson & Davidson. And in this video, I want to discuss step-parents. And I don’t mean to disparage step-parents, there’s a lot of very good step-parent and step-child relationships out there. But, there’s also some…
Assets in Trust and Will Litigation
Assets in Trust and Will Litigation
The Empty Will: Why a California Will or Trust May Not Control Your Assets after Death.
You may think that a California Will or Trust controls the distribution of all your assets after your death. You may be surprised to learn just how meaningless a Will or Trust can be depending on how your assets are titled.
When a person is alive, his assets are viewed as belonging to him. When…
The Asset Puzzle – Why Your California Will May Not Matter.
The manner in which assets are titled govern how those assets pass at death. And this can override a disposition contained in a Will or Trust. All the effort people take to prepare a Will or Trust can be wasted if assets are not titled properly. This is what I call the asset puzzle.
The…