Moravec Varga & Mooney

Short Answer When a parent develops dementia, families have multiple care and financial options, including home care, assisted living, skilled nursing facilities, and Medi-Cal coverage. Proper estate planning, asset protection, and long-term care planning with an estate planning attorney can ensure your parent’s needs are met while preserving home equity, assets, and the family legacy. Introduction: The Challenges of Dementia Care Caring for a parent with dementia involves fa

Short Answer An unfunded trust occurs when assets are not properly transferred into the trust. Without proper funding, the trust cannot accomplish its purpose, leaving your estate exposed to probate, Medi-Cal estate recovery, and other risks. Funding a trust ensures proper asset protection, estate management, and safeguards for your family and beneficiaries. Introduction: Why Trust Funding Matters Establishing a trust is a cornerstone of modern estate planning. However, many

Short answer:  Yes, you can usually transfer a car without opening a probate case in California — if you follow the right steps. Vehicles are one of the few assets that the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) allows to pass outside of formal probate when the estate meets certain criteria. The key is understanding whether the decedent’s total assets require probate and which transfer procedure applies. At Moravec, Varga & Mooney , we guide families through these tran

Short Answer:  California Code of Civil Procedure §704.115 protects certain retirement and private retirement plan assets from creditors — even in bankruptcy or judgment situations. For many Californians, this statute is the foundation of effective asset protection and estate planning. At Moravec, Varga & Mooney , we frequently advise clients on how to safeguard their assets without crossing into unlawful “asset hiding.” Section 704.115 offers one of the few lawful and time-t

Short answer:  You can  — but estate planning isn’t about filling out forms; it’s about protecting your life’s work, your family, and your intentions. In today’s digital world, it’s easy to believe that estate planning can be accomplished with a few clicks and a credit card. Online legal platforms advertise quick, inexpensive “trust kits” and “DIY will packages.” For many Californians, especially those with modest estates, the appeal is understandable: why hire an attorney if

Introduction Every family dreams of stability, protection, and financial security. Yet without effective estate planning, those dreams...

Introduction: Estate planning is one of the most crucial steps individuals and families can take to secure their financial legacy,...

Introduction: Clearing the Confusion Around Estate Planning When people hear the word “estate,” they often think of a last will and...

Introduction: California property tax law has always been complex, but few measures have reshaped the landscape as significantly as...

Introduction: Marriage is a celebration of commitment, but when it comes to second marriages, estate planning introduces a complex web of...

Managing a trust involves more than simply following instructions in a legal document—it requires precision, responsibility, and...

Introduction In today’s world of estate planning, flexibility and oversight are crucial. Traditional trusts often grant broad authority...

Introduction Estate administration is never an easy task. Executors and trustees often dedicate countless hours to fulfilling their...

Introduction When someone passes away, their last will often becomes the focal point of estate planning and asset distribution. But a...

Introduction When trust litigation or estate disputes arise, emotions often run high. Yet beneath the surface, the most pressing...