Your estate plan must safeguard your children, who are counting on you to ensure that they will always be taken care of by the people you want, in a way you want, no matter what happens.
At Sky Unlimited Legal Advisory, we are very passionate about planning for the well-being and care of the children you love. Over the years, we have developed an expertise for advance planning for the care of children in the event of the death of one or both parents. Without this advance legal planning, unthinkable events can (and do) take place:
Ø Your children could be placed into the care of the California Department of Social Services ... even if you have a will in place ... and even if you have a living trust! (Likely this circumstance would be temporary, but you never want your children in the care of strangers - not even for a minute.)
Ø Your children could be put into the custody and care of someone you would never choose, like the one family member who may have good intentions, but you don't want raising your kids!
Ø A judge, who doesn't know you or your family, will decide who will raise your kids, even if it is the last person you would ever want.
Ø A long and nasty custody fight could ensure or there might be a challenge to the guardians you have designated.
Ø Up to 5% of the value of your gross assets could be lost to court costs and other unnecessary fees through the probate process that can tie up your assets for years and deprive your kids of the resources they need.
Ø Unscrupulous people can take advantage of children when they turn 18 and get a check for whatever assets are left.
With advance legal planning, these problems and more can be avoided. A majority of estate planning attorneys do not address these issues. They do not plan from a parent's perspective and they do not have the expertise to do a comprehensive job.
Yes, these occurrences scare us, too! That is why we offer a Kids Protection Plan® with every estate plan we do for families with minor children.
Our Kids Protection Plan® includes a specific set of instructions, legal documents, and an ID card for your wallet. If you are in an accident, your Kids Protection Plan will help to make sure your children are never taken into the custody of Child Protective Services or anyone else you would not want. These clear instructions inform the Police and ensure your children will be raised by people you have selected.
To get started with your Kids Protection Plan®, please call us at (650) 761-0992 today or book a Family Wealth Planning Session® online now.
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Great work. But here's something you may not realize: an estate plan, a will, or a trust isn't a "set it and forget it" type of thing. Your estate plan is a living set of documents and tools that need regular attention to ensure they work when your loved ones need them and that they don’t fail at the worst possible moment.
Think about it this way: Would you still wear the same clothes you bought ten years ago without checking if they still fit? Probably not. Similarly, your estate plan, including your trust, needs to be reviewed regularly to ensure it still "fits" your current life situation, assets, the law, and your wishes. Let's explore why regular estate plan reviews are so crucial and how often you should be checking in on your plan.
LIFE CHANGES, AND YOUR TRUST SHOULD TOO
Life rarely stays the same for long. Since you created your trust, you've likely experienced changes in your personal and financial life. Each of these changes can impact how effective your trust will be in protecting your assets and providing for your loved ones.
Before you stop reading, hear me out.
Whether it’s a breakup, divorce, or the death of a loved one after a lifetime together, every relationship eventually will come to an end. The most important thing is how you have planned for that ending, or whether you haven’t at all, as your planning (or lack of it) will have a real impact on you, your partner, your children, and your assets.
The silver lining? While we can't prevent the end, we can prepare for it with a blend of compassion and strategic planning that makes the end the best possible foundation for a new beginning.
Understanding the Intersection of Love and Law
Love is wonderful—joyful moments, shared dreams for the future, and yes, some legal considerations too. For married couples, the law has default provisions in place for what happens to your assets if one of you dies, but those default plans may not align with your personal preferences or the life you’ve built with your partner.
While no one wants to think about emergencies during vacation, having proper protection in place lets you truly relax and enjoy making memories together.
Let's explore why having a Kids Protection Plan® (“KPP”) in place before traveling is essential and what steps you can take to protect your children. Please note: most lawyers, even at the top estate planning firms, often make at least one of 6 common mistakes that the KPP is designed to address, when naming legal guardians for children in an estate plan.
THE HIDDEN RISKS OF TRAVELING WITHOUT PROTECTION
When you're caught up in vacation planning excitement, it's easy to focus only on the fun ahead. However, traveling presents unique risks and scenarios you need to consider. If you become incapacitated in a car accident or experience any other emergency while away from home, what would happen to your children in those critical first hours or days? Without proper legal documentation, your children could be temporarily taken into the care of strangers or social services until the proper authorities can determine who has the legal authority to care for them.
While no one can predict exactly what will happen, proper estate planning gives you security, regardless of political changes.
UNDERSTANDING CURRENT PROTECTIONS AND POTENTIAL CHANGES
Same-sex marriage is currently recognized in all 50 states under federal law, protected by the Supreme Court's Obergefell decision and the Respect for Marriage Act. If you were married in states like Massachusetts or New York—early adopters of marriage equality—your marriage remains valid under those state laws regardless of federal changes.
But state-level protections vary significantly. Some states have explicit constitutional protections for same-sex marriage, while others maintain laws that could restrict marriage rights if federal protections change. Understanding your state's specific laws is crucial. For example, Massachusetts not only recognizes same-sex marriage but also provides strong protections for non-biological parents and inheritance rights.
Financial experts may tell you that it's a chance to pay off debts, tuck away savings for an emergency, or add to your retirement savings. You, on the other hand, may want to splurge on something special. However, there's an often-overlooked option that not only provides immediate satisfaction but ensures long-term benefits for both you and your loved ones: estate planning.
Estate planning might sound like a complex and daunting chore reserved for the wealthy, but it's actually a straightforward and crucial process for everyone. In its most basic terms, estate planning involves making a plan for what happens to your belongings and finances after you're gone, or if you become incapacitated. Think of it as creating a roadmap for your loved ones to follow, ensuring they're taken care of and know exactly how to handle your estate according to your wishes. After all, someone will have to do something with your stuff after you’re gone, and if you’re the one who takes care of it while you can, you can save your loved ones a lot of pain. And, make sure you are cared for in the way you want, by the people you want, if you become incapacitated.