William Ha Law

wills

Estate Planning 101: The Big Picture

Welcome to the Education Center. If estate planning has always felt complicated or intimidating, this short series is for you. Read these lessons in order and you’ll understand the real problem with probate, how to avoid it, and the myths that trip most people up.

What is a Will?

In estate planning, a will stands as one of the fundamental legal instruments that allow individuals to dictate the distribution of their assets and designate guardians for their minor children in the event of their passing.

DIY Wills in California: What Goes Wrong (and When You Really Need a Lawyer)

Online will kits are cheap, fast, and everywhere. For $20 and twenty minutes, they promise you a finished estate plan. I understand the appeal, and for a small number of people, a simple do-it-yourself will is genuinely fine.

Using the California Statutory Will

Californians need to know three things about wills: It doesn’t avoid probate, it only overrides intestate succession and other intestate rules in probate (curious what a probate costs?

Remember When You Named Your 20 Year Old Girlfriend As a Beneficiary? He Didn't Either.

I came across an article on the Wall Street Journal with the title His Ex Is Getting His $1 Million Retirement Account.

What’s the Difference Between a Will and a Trust?

When I begin discussing estate planning in a group, one question that inevitably arises is whether a Will is sufficient. Unless you’ve delved into this topic extensively or work with it regularly, the answer may not be immediately clear.