If you’ve recently transferred your California home into a living trust, congratulations on taking a smart step toward protecting your estate! A living trust is a powerful tool for avoiding probate, ensuring privacy, and streamlining the transfer of your assets to your loved ones. However, there’s one critical task you might overlook: notifying your homeowner’s insurance provider. Failing to update your insurance policy to reflect the trust as the legal owner of your home could leave you vulnerable to claim denials, liability risks, or even policy cancellation. In this post, we’ll walk you through why contacting your insurer is essential, how to do it, and what to watch out for, all tailored for California homeowners. Plus, we’ll highlight key differences for those in other states.

If you’re a California resident planning your estate, you’ve likely heard about the headaches of probate—the court-supervised process of distributing a deceased person’s assets. Probate in California can be costly, time-consuming, and public, potentially draining your estate and delaying inheritances for your loved ones. Fortunately, a living trust offers a powerful solution to bypass probate entirely, saving time, money, and stress. At LivingTrustAdvisor.com, we’re here to help you understand why a living trust is your best tool for avoiding probate in California, or in any state, and how to structure your estate to keep court involvement to a minimum.

When it comes to safeguarding your money, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) has your back. Whether you’re an individual saver or managing a living trust, understanding FDIC insurance limits can give you peace of mind in case of a bank failure. The good news? These rules apply consistently across all 50 states, so whether you’re in California, New York, or anywhere else, your deposits are protected the same way. Here’s a clear breakdown of FDIC coverage for individual accounts and living trust accounts to help you maximize your protection.

If you’re a California homeowner with a revocable living trust, you’ve likely heard about Proposition 19 and its impact on property taxes and estate planning. Passed by California voters in November 2020 and effective as of February 16, 2021, Proposition 19 significantly changed the rules for property tax reassessments, particularly for inherited properties and homes owned by trusts. For those planning to pass their home to their heirs, understanding these changes is critical to avoid unexpected tax hikes and protect your family’s financial legacy. In this post, we’ll break down what Proposition 19 means for California homeowners, how it affects revocable living trusts, and practical estate planning tips and workarounds to minimize its impact. Written with California residents in mind, this guide is designed to help you navigate these complex changes with confidence.

At Living Trust Advisor, we’re dedicated to helping Californians like you pass on your home or property to loved ones smoothly and cost-effectively. A Revocable Transfer on Death (TOD) deed is one tool to avoid the lengthy and expensive probate process, but it’s not the only option. A living trust offers another way to bypass probate with added benefits. Both have their place, but California’s Proposition 19 property tax rules, effective since February 16, 2021, add a layer of complexity that makes choosing the right tool critical. Below, we’ll explain what a TOD deed is, compare it to a living trust, highlight their pros and cons (including Prop 19’s impact), and share why a living trust may be the smarter choice for many California homeowners.

Estate planning is crucial for protecting your family and legacy, yet myths about its complexity or necessity often prevent California residents from taking action. As a dedicated Living Trust Advisor in San Diego, I’m here to debunk the top five estate planning myths and show you how a well-crafted plan, especially a living trust, can secure your future under California law.