A contribution to charity provides all sorts of benefits, both to you and the cause to which you’re donating. In addition to supporting an important cause, donors often also receive tax benefits. By incorporating charitable giving into your estate plan, you can extend these benefits beyond your lifetime. Below, we outline some of the ways Californians can give to charity through their estate planning.
How to prepare the inventory and appraisal for an estate
One of the most important steps for someone administering an estate is completing the inventory and appraisal of the deceased person’s property. They provide this information to the state using the Inventory and Appraisal Form, which includes two attachments. The attachments are the essential part of the form, as they are the actual lists of assets.
How often should I review my existing estate plan?
Estate plans work best when they are up to date. This means that creating your estate plan is only part of the estate planning process. You must also review your estate plan regularly to make sure that it still reflects your current wishes, abides by current laws and utilizes the most effective strategy for your current situation.
First-party v. third-party special needs trusts
One of the nice things about trusts is that there are so many different kinds. It is safe to say that California families could find a variety of trusts that fit their individual needs.
