Westminster Law Blog

Planning for the future is not easy, especially when it comes to making legal and financial choices that will impact a person or his or her loved ones down the road. Estate planning is a smart way to maintain control over what happens to a person's property after his or her passing and ensure that things go where they are intended. While drafting a will is the first and most basic step in this process, it may also be beneficial to consider the benefits of establishing a trust as well. 

A trust is a way for a California adult to set aside and protect certain assets after his or her death. This can allow someone to pass assets during his or her lifetime or after death, as well as allow beneficiaries to avoid the probate process. A trust can pass property to a specific person, but it can also be used for things such as charitable giving or the long-term care of a loved one with disabilities. 

Working together with a former spouse after ending a marriage is not easy, but for some California couples, it can be impossible. Child custody is often one of the most complicated issues to resolve in a divorce, but co-parenting is an option that allows the children to maintain strong relationships with both parents long-term. For two people who may not get along, this can seem like a challenge, but the key to making this work well is a commitment to communication.

Even when it's difficult to work together, parents will benefit from keeping dialogue open between them. Whether it's discussing potential changes in schedule or needs of the children, parents need to be able to talk about these things. Another thing that can make a difficult co-parenting relationship easier is to avoid talking badly about each other in front of the kids, and this can affect the kids perception of his or her parents.

When a Californian makes the effort to plan for the future, he or she may think that once it's all drafted, that's all someone needs to do. It can be tempting to forget about estate planning documents until they're needed, but that's not always wise. In reality, these documents and important paperwork should be carefully reviewed occasionally, especially after a major life change.

One thing a person will need to do is review ownership of assets. A person will need to make sure that beneficiaries and heirs will have easy access to important assets and accounts. This will make it significantly easier in case of incapacity or unexpected death. When there is a question over ownership of an asset or disputes over something that is jointly owned, it can make things complicated in the future. 

You know that your brain is one of your most vital organs. The majority of your bodily functions and abilities hinge on your brain function. As a result, if you suffer a traumatic brain injury, the negative effects of that injury can be far-reaching and immensely impactful on your life and your future.

In some cases, the effects of a TBI do not present themselves until years after an accident has occurred. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to predict exactly how this type of injury will affect a specific person. In fact, it can be difficult to even diagnose a TBI because damage often does not show up on MRI and CT scans.