California A-B Trust, Bypass Trust, and Credit Shelter Trust: A 2026 Guide
Many articles you will find on A-B trusts may be out of date. This structure once dominated California estate planning for married couples with larger estates. It led the field from the 1980s through the early 2010s. Then portability arrived in 2013 and changed the math. Now, in 2026, the A-B trust sits in a […]
Revocable vs Irrevocable Trust in California: Which One Do You Actually Need?
Two words trip up almost everyone who starts estate planning: revocable and irrevocable. The difference really comes down to one idea, which is control. A revocable trust you can change or undo at any time. An irrevocable trust you generally cannot. Here is the honest part most articles skip. For most California families, the right […]
OBBBA Estate Tax Changes: What California Families Need to Know in 2026
For years, the headlines told a frightening story. The federal estate tax exemption would be cut in half at the end of 2025. Many California families built that fear into their plans and rushed to beat the deadline. Recent OBBBA estate tax changes are now in effect. On July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful […]
California Standalone Retirement Trust: A Complete Guide (2026)
You spent a working lifetime building a substantial IRA, 401(k), or 403(b), and you always assumed you would name your children as beneficiaries and be done with it. Then the SECURE Act ended the stretch IRA. Today, most heirs must empty an inherited retirement account within ten years, often during their peak earning years and […]
Understanding the Difference between Joint Trust vs Separate Trusts in California in 2026
Confused about whether to have a joint trust vs. separate trusts? California married couples ask us this in nearly every first estate planning meeting. There is no universally correct answer. The right choice depends on your facts. Is this a first marriage? Are your assets mostly community property? Do you have children from a prior […]
California Special Needs Trust: Complete Guide for Families (2026)
You have spent years, sometimes decades, building a life around someone you love who has a disability. Maybe it is a child who needs lifelong care. Maybe a sibling, a parent, or an adult child whose recent personal injury settlement just landed. The question is the same in every case. How do you provide for […]
California Pet Trust: How to Provide for Your Pets After You Die (2026 Guide)
Most California pet owners do not have a clear plan for what happens to their dog, cat, or horse if they die or become unable to provide care. Too often the result is a beloved pet surrendered to a shelter, because no family member is ready to step in and no one knows what the […]
California Estate Tax Planning: Comprehensive 2026 Guide for High-Net-Worth Families
If you have a meaningful estate, you have probably heard conflicting things about estate tax planning. California has no state estate tax. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed July 4, 2025, set the federal exemption at $15 million per individual. A married couple can have up to a combined $30 million exemption with […]
California Power of Attorney: A Complete Guide to All POA Types in 2026
Most California adults need a power of attorney long before they need a will. At Opelon LLP, our Carlsbad firm has drafted more than 700 California estate plans, and every single one includes a coordinated power of attorney. We have also administered over 250 San Diego County estates. That dual experience tells us one thing […]
Complete Guide to California Wills: All Will Types (2026)
If you are researching California wills before talking to an attorney, you are already ahead of many people. At Opelon LLP in Carlsbad, we have designed more than 700 California estate plans. We have also administered more than 250 San Diego County estates. One pattern keeps showing up. Families often assume that having a will […]