Frequently Asked Questions

HOW DOES DIVORCE CHANGE AN ESTATE PLAN? Divorces are often difficult and emotional times, and the effects of the divorce on your estate plan may often be overlooked. You likely created an estate plan that left all or much of your estate to your spouse during your marriage. If you have recently divorced, you should…

What are the most common estate planning mistakes? No matter your income or how much property you own, an estate plan is crucial to ensuring everything you own is distributed according to your wishes after your death. Even more important than making sure you have an estate plan is to make sure your plan is…

Why Should Young Families Do an Estate Plan? Young couples may often be preoccupied with more immediate concerns than creating an estate plan. You may think you are too healthy to be concerned about an estate plan, you do not own enough assets to need a plan, or an estate plan would be too expensive,…

What are the types of Power of Attorney? First, a power of attorney (POA) refers to a legal document, which gives someone, called an “agent” or “attorney-in-fact,” the ability to act on behalf of or make property decisions or personal affairs decisions for someone else, called the “principal.” A power of attorney must meet California’s…

How do I Organize Financial Accounts After Death? If you are dealing with the death of a loved one, Mark Gullotta can help ease the process. Organizing Financial Accounts After the Death of My Loved One Within days or weeks of the death of the family member, you will need to do the following: You…

What Should I Do First After the Death of a Loved One? As human beings, it is our nature to want to avoid the unpleasant tasks in life. However, too often, by avoiding those tasks, we inadvertently leave a huge mess behind for our loved ones to untangle. To avoid such issues, it is important…