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 […]
How Prop 19 Changed Inheriting Property in California
Prop 19 inherited property rules in California caught thousands of families off guard, turning what used to be a straightforward tax benefit into a potential financial burden. If your parents own a home in San Diego County, the property tax bill your family faces after they pass could be dramatically higher than what they pay today. Here is what changed, what limited exclusions still exist, and what your family can do about it.
Estate Planning for Young Professionals: 6 Steps to Protect Your Future in California
Estate Planning for High-Net-Worth Estates: Protecting Generational Wealth in 2026
Estate planning for high-net-worth estates in California requires more than a revocable living trust. With the federal estate tax exemption set at $15 million per person under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, families above this threshold face a 40% tax rate on every dollar that exceeds the limit.
California Revocable Living Trust Tax Guide: 6 Things to Simplify Your Plan
A California revocable living trust tax return is not required while the grantor is alive, because the IRS treats the trust as invisible for income tax purposes.
This guide covers six essential tax topics for California trust owners, including property tax rules under Proposition 19, the community property stepped-up basis advantage, and the $15 million federal estate tax exemption effective in 2026. Learn what changes after the grantor’s death and how to avoid the most common trust tax mistakes
Nevada LLC, Delaware LLC, or Wyoming LLC: Does It Matter for California Residents in 2026?
Finding the best state to form an LLC as a California resident should be simple, but a cottage industry of online promoters has turned it into a confusing sales pitch. The truth is that forming in Wyoming, Nevada, or Delaware costs California residents more money every year, requires compliance in two states instead of one, and delivers zero California tax savings.
How Healthcare Costs Affect Your California Estate Plan in 2026
You have probably seen the headlines claiming you need $300,000 or more saved just for healthcare in retirement. The real number is far less alarming, and what actually matters is how your California estate plan handles medical costs year by year, not all at once.
The California Probate Sale Process: A Realtor’s Guide to Listing and Closing Estate Properties
The California probate sale process for realtors is unlike any other residential transaction you will handle, and the agents who understand the rules win the listings that others walk away from. This guide covers everything from verifying IAEA authority to navigating the overbid process, pricing strategy for court-confirmed sales, and the seven mistakes that can cost you your commission.