Digital Estate Planning: Why Passwords Aren’t Enough
Key Takeaways Introduction She found the notebook in the top drawer of her mother’s desk. Six pages. Every account. Every password. Username, password, recovery question. Her mother had been organized her whole life, and the notebook proved it. Then she tried to log in. The bank account asked for a six-digit code sent to her […]
What You Should Know about Life Insurance in Estate Planning
Key Takeaways Introduction An estate plan may look perfect on paper—until your heirs need cash quickly. Life insurance can be a powerful tool for addressing that gap, providing funds precisely when they are needed most. When coordinated with the rest of your estate plan, it can also help ensure that your wishes are carried out […]
When Your Spouse Won’t Get on Board with Estate Planning: What to Do Now
Key Takeaways Introduction You’ve brought it up before. Maybe it came up after watching a friend go through something hard, a probate process that dragged on for years, or a family left scrambling without the right documents in place. Maybe a health scare prompted the conversation, or a birthday that snuck up faster than expected. […]
How to Protect Your Children with a Legal Guardianship Plan in California
KEY TAKEAWAYS Most parents assume that having a will means their children are protected. It’s a reasonable assumption — but it’s also one of the most dangerous misconceptions in estate planning. In two back-to-back episodes of Legacy Protected, attorney Romelia “DeDe” Soto of The Soto Law Group walks through exactly what happens to children when […]
What Is a Special Needs Trust and Why Might Your Family Need One?
KEY TAKEAWAYS For families raising a child with a disability, the love and care they provide every single day is extraordinary. But one question tends to keep those parents up at night: What happens to my child when I’m no longer here? In this episode of Legacy Protected, estate planning and special needs trust attorney […]
Trust Administration in California: A Step-by-Step Guide for Trustees
KEY TAKEAWAYS In this episode of Legacy Protected, estate planning and trust administration attorney Romelia “DeDe” Soto of The Soto Law Group walks through one of the most misunderstood — and often overwhelming — responsibilities a person can be handed: serving as a trustee. Whether you were named in advance and have had time to […]
Business Succession Planning in California: Don’t Leave It to Chance
Key Takeaways Introduction If you own a business in Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, or Irvine, chances are you spend most of your energy growing that business — not planning for what happens if you can’t run it anymore. But that gap in planning can devastate everything you have built. In this episode of Legacy Protected, […]
018: Naming a Guardian for Your Children: What California Parents Need to Know
Most parents put off naming a guardian for their children because the topic feels heavy to sit with. DeDe Soto breaks down why that delay carries real risk, walking through what happens when a judge, not a parent, ends up deciding who raises the kids after a tragedy strikes. DeDe covers the difference between short-term […]
The Question Every Father Thinks He’s Answered (But Hasn’t)
There are two kinds of fathers. The first kind coaches the games, makes it to the school plays, stays up late helping with the projects, and loves his family in every visible way. He thinks about what would happen if something happened to him: maybe during a long drive home, maybe after a close call
The Family Meeting: Not Just for Billionaires
For some people, the term family meeting may not bring to mind a pleasant gathering where everyone shares fond memories and warm feelings. When someone says, “We need to talk,” it often implies that something is wrong or that tough decisions need to be made or discussed. However, in estate planning