Blog
Protecting Your Partner When Marriage Isn’t Part of the Plan
Not every committed relationship leads to marriage—and for many couples later in life, that's a deliberate choice....
When Courts Decide for You: Understanding Living Probate and How to Plan Ahead
While many proactive individuals understand the importance of having a comprehensive estate plan, they often assume...
What to Know Before Leaving Assets to Grandchildren and Young Beneficiaries
Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and close family friends often want to leave meaningful gifts to the next generation....
If I Leave Someone My Home, What Do They Really Get?
Your home is likely one of the most valuable assets you own, if not the most valuable. Calling it an asset can sound...
Stress Test Your Estate Plan
Creating an estate plan is a significant accomplishment. However, the work doesn't end when the documents are signed....
Probate Notes Podcast: Empowering Professionals with International Tax Knowledge with Janet Brewer
International estate and tax planning presents unique challenges that many probate professionals encounter but few...
Strategic Year-End Charitable Giving for California Families
As year-end approaches, California families with substantial assets face both an opportunity and a deadline: how to...
Understanding Spousal Inheritance Rights in California: What You Can and Cannot Control
California couples managing substantial assets often assume they have complete freedom to distribute their wealth as...
When Your Business Partnership Is Also Your Marriage: Estate Planning Strategies That Most Couples Overlook
I regularly work with entrepreneurial couples who've built thriving businesses together—tech startups, successful...
When It’s Time to Replace a Trustee: Understanding Your Legal Options
The title of trustee implies that this position should be held by someone you find trustworthy, and for good reason....
12 Estate Planning Mistakes That Could Impact Your Family’s Future
Many people believe that a simple will is all they need to accomplish their goals for the future. However, a flawed...
Strategic Inheritance Management: Preserving Wealth Across Generations
Receiving an inheritance, whether large or small, often comes with a wide range of emotions, from the grief of losing...
Why Your Retirement Success Could Become Your Children’s Vulnerability
California families are accumulating retirement wealth at unprecedented levels. Tech industry 401(k)s routinely reach...
Strategic Asset Protection: How Families Use Domestic Trusts to Shield Future Wealth
A tech entrepreneur recently posed a question that's becoming increasingly common: "Janet, I've built significant...
Why Families Can’t Afford Insurance Gaps in Their Estate Plan
From my Los Altos office, I regularly witness a troubling pattern among California's high-net-worth families:...
What Does It Mean to Be a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law?
If you’ve noticed a new seal appearing in our materials, it’s the official mark of a Certified Specialist in Estate...
The Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) Tax Exemption: A Powerful Estate Planning Tool for California Business Owners
For California business owners—particularly those in tech and other analytical fields—estate planning involves more...
Plot Twist: AI is Now Referring Clients to My Estate Planning Practice
You're going to think this is wild, but I had to share something that's been happening at our firm that has me both...
