Author: Patricia De Fonte – Estate Planning Attorney

In 2008, Congress recognized the need for the public to understand the importance and benefits of estate planning by passing House Resolution 1499, which designated the third week of October as National Estate Planning Awareness Week. Nevertheless, according to a 2019 survey carried out by Caring.com, 57% of adults in the United States have not…

Use This Time to Revisit the Parts of Your Estate Plan that Impact Your Children Most With all the considerations about your children’s wellbeing weighing on your mind from day to day, it can be easy to forget about some of the most important factors in keeping them well cared for and secure: naming a…

As the end of summer swiftly approaches, the parents of young adults experience a mixed bag of emotions. It can be exciting to see your children branching out and becoming successful adults in their own right — a time full of hard work and self-discovery that hopefully lays the groundwork for a fulfilling career in…

I ask all of my clients to conduct a full insurance audit. Do they have adequate casualty insurance? Did they tell their agent or broker about their new kitchen or pit bull or baby? Are they relying on employment benefits as their primary source of disability and life insurance? And all of my clients, regardless…

The time is now: Especially during the pandemic when travel is limited and access to a loved one in a medical facility is restricted, estate planning is critical. It starts with an advance health care directive that can be obtained from the doctor or by a simple Google search. Without an advance health care directive,…

There is no question that having children changes everything – and estate planning is no exception. If you and your spouse pass away or become legally incapacitated, and arrangements were never made in the event of such an emergency, your minor child or children will have to be placed with a new family. Not surprisingly,…

Estate planning is complicated. California’s community property laws are complicated. It is easy to get confused because the rule is often contrary to what common sense indicates. Generally, every penny you earn from labor during marriage is a shared penny. Assets you had before you married, inheritance and gifts you receive while married, and certain…

Divorce is a hot topic lately. As couples emerged from quarantine in China in March, divorce rates spiked – and there no reason to assume the results will be any different here in California. Assisting a divorcing client means assembling the right team of professionals. It is critical to assist a divorcing client in risk…

We know it’s hard. Thinking about someone else raising your children can stop you in your tracks. It feels crushing and too horrific to consider. But you must. If you don’t, a stranger will determine who raises your children if something happens to you – your children’s guardian could be a relative you despise or…

Should Your Child’s Guardian and Trustee Be the Same Person? If you have overheard any discussion about estate planning, you have likely heard the words “guardian” or “trustee” tossed around in the conversation. When it comes to estate planning, who will be ultimately in charge of your minor child is an important decision that requires…