Blog
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...
Absolute Trust Talk Interview: Beyond Borders: International Estate Planning Essentials for Families (Part 3)
One of the most common mistakes I see in my practice happens when well-meaning US citizens assume their domestic...
Absolute Trust Talk Interview: Beyond Borders: International Estate Planning Essentials for Families (Part 2)
The most expensive mistakes in international estate planning often occur not because families lack good intentions,...
Absolute Trust Talk Interview: Beyond Borders: International Estate Planning Essentials for Families (Part 1)
International estate planning involves a range of considerations that extend far beyond typical domestic planning....
3 Remarkable Pet Trust Cases and the Lessons They Teach Us
Providing for your pet’s future can sometimes bring out a pet owner’s most...
Estate Planning That Reflects Your Identity: Five Key Conversations to Have with Your Family
When creating an estate plan, your primary focus may be on distributing your wealth and property. However, your legacy...
Who Should Have an Estate Plan?
If you are an adult, you need an estate plan. Regardless of age, financial status, or stage in life, having a plan in...
