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 […]
Successor Trustee Duties in California: A Year-1 Checklist
The successor trustee duties California law assigns to you start the moment a parent or spouse dies. You may have just learned you are the named successor trustee on a California revocable living trust. The work ahead is structured and knowable, even if grief is not. Opelon LLP has administered hundreds of California trusts from […]
California Trusts: A Complete Guide to All Trust Types in 2026
If you are researching California trusts before sitting down with an attorney, you are in the right place. Opelon LLP has designed more than 700 California trusts from our Carlsbad office. Our team has also administered more than 250 San Diego County estates. California has no state estate tax. But its statutory probate fees are […]
Finding a specialized Estate Planning Law Firm in San Diego: 2026 Guide
Imagine receiving a letter from the probate court six months after a loved one’s passing, informing you that your family home and savings are tied up in legal proceedings. Instead of mourning in peace, you find yourself drowning in paperwork, facing hefty legal fees, and enduring emotional strain as disputes over every last asset eat […]