What Happens to Assets When a Surviving Spouse Remarries?
Quick Summary When a surviving spouse remarries, assets you left them outright can ultimately pass to their new spouse, new stepchildren, or anyone else they choose — leaving your biological children with nothing. California law provides no automatic protection for your children in this scenario. This article explains the legal reality of surviving spouse remarriage, […]
How Trusts Help Prevent Family Conflict After Death
Quick Summary Trusts are the most powerful legal tool available for preventing family conflict over inheritance — especially in blended families. Unlike a will, a trust provides legally binding instructions for how assets are managed and distributed, avoids public probate proceedings, and significantly reduces the ability of disgruntled heirs to disrupt the process. This article […]
The Biggest Estate Planning Mistakes Blended Families Make
Quick Summary Blended families make estate planning mistakes that traditional families almost never encounter — and the consequences can be devastating. The most common mistakes include leaving everything outright to a spouse, failing to update beneficiary designations, using a single joint trust instead of separate trusts, and neglecting to review the plan as life changes. […]
Can Stepchildren Contest a Trust in California?
Quick Summary Yes — stepchildren can contest a trust in California, but they need legal standing and valid grounds. The most common grounds are undue influence, lack of mental capacity, and fraud. This article explains how trust contests work and how to draft a trust that withstands a challenge. Attorney Cecilia Amo at Amo Law […]
How to Protect Your Children’s Inheritance After Remarriage
Quick Summary When you remarry, your children from a prior relationship are not automatically protected under California law. Without the right trust in place, your assets could pass entirely to your new spouse — leaving your children with nothing. Attorney Cecilia Amo at Amo Law Legacy Planning helps blended families in Costa Mesa fix this […]
How to Protect Your Children’s Inheritance After Remarriage
Quick Summary When you remarry, your children from a prior relationship are not automatically protected under California law. Without the right trust structure, your assets could pass entirely to your new spouse — leaving your children with nothing. This article explains how QTIP trusts, AB trusts, and beneficiary designation reviews can protect your children’s inheritance […]
Estate Planning Lessons from Video Game Legend Hideo Kojima
Estate Planning Lessons from Video Game Legend Hideo Kojima When most people think of “estate planning,” they picture legal documents — wills, trusts, powers of attorney. And yes, those things are important. But true legacy planning is about much more than paperwork. Recently, I came across a story that beautifully illustrates this. Hideo Kojima is […]
A Will Isn’t a Plan: The $500M Mistake That Could Happen to Anyone
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] Picture this: You’ve built a company worth hundreds of millions, revitalized a city, and inspired people with your generosity and creativity. Then, unexpectedly, you pass away… and nearly five years later, a will suddenly appears—one that no one even knew existed. Meanwhile, your family has been caught in years of legal battles, emotional […]
Do I Need a Will or a Trust
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””] Do I Need a Will or a Trust? If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “Do I need a Will or a Trust?”—you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common questions we hear. And while the answer depends on your unique situation, let’s break it down in a way that actually makes sense (no […]