Make Time During the Holidays to Discuss Estate Planning with Your Family

Make Time During the Holidays to Discuss Estate Planning with Your Family

While the typical holiday get-together includes great food, a gathering of those we love the most, and festivity, it’s also a perfect time to discuss Estate Planning.

Chances are, the members of your family are all present, which provides an opportune moment for everyone to communicate their needs and wishes for assets. When you document detailed instructions in an Estate Plan in the event you die or become incapacitated, you are avoiding any stress or confusion when the time comes. Your wishes will be fulfilled and your family will have advance knowledge when the time comes.

Creating an Effective Estate Plan

A trust and estate planning attorney can help you prepare or review how your estate and assets will be managed after your death. Estate plans can also include your end of life care requests so that family members know your wishes.

Please visit our website to find out more information about Estate Planning.

How to Ease into a Discussion about Estate Planning with Your Elderly Parents

It’s not always easy to discuss after-life care with your elderly parents.  The holidays are no exception. But with the tips and techniques we have provided in our blog, How to Properly and Carefully Assist the Elderly with Their Estate Planning, you may find that now is the best time to talk.

Tips to an Effective Holiday Estate Planning Meeting

Consider these helpful tips when discussing your end-of-life plan:

  • Tell everyone what you want to discuss and why, but only if you are comfortable doing so.
  • Set a time and day when all the family can be included. Consider face-timing family who cannot be there.
  • Distract younger individuals who may not understand or who might be scared and confused. Consider having an older cousin or friend take them out for the duration of the meeting.
  • Consider what other family members may hold as sentimental to help you divide your assets.
  • Keep the meeting light and brief and thank all members.
  • Transition into something meaningful and fun after the meeting to offset what could be a heavy tone.

For Help with Estate Planning, Contact Mendes Weed, LLP

Contact us to find out how we may be able to help you with our estate planning needs.

Disclaimer: The tips and materials provided on this page are for informational purposes only, offered as public service. No information on this website should be considered legal advice or used as a substitute for legal advice. For legal advice, you should contact an attorney directly.

 

 

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[Video] Revoking a California Will or Trust

In California, a will can be revoked by a new will that specifically revokes the old one, or by destroying the will by physical act.  A physical act can include burning, tearing, canceling, obliterating or destroying the will.  This must, however, be done by the person who created the will.

A revocable living trust revocation is different.  It is governed by the terms of the trust.  For example, the trust may allow for revocation through a signed writing by the Trustor or Settlor that is delivered to the Trustee.  A trustor could also take the assets out of a trust, and the trust would cease to have control over the assets.

Revoking a will or revocable living trust is fairly straightforward, but it is important to make sure it is done in the right way.  An attorney who is knowledgeable of wills and trusts can assist you if you are considering revoking your will or trust.

Contact Mendes Weed, LLP for Advice 

If you want more information about revoking a will or trust, Mendes Weed, LLP may be able to help.  With offices in Sacramento, San Francisco, and Walnut Creek, we’ve been helping clients in the Bay Area and beyond feel confident that their future wishes are taken care of per their instructions. Contact us for more information.

superlawyers logo
Best of the East Bay Attorneys
Lisa Janine MendesReviewsout of 5 reviews
Walnut Creek Chanber of Commerce logo
Christina Weed - Taxation Law Specialist
lawyers of distinction badge 2020