A trust that isn't funded doesn't do its job. Here's how to check whether your assets are actually titled correctly — and why so many aren't.

Even with a trust in place, Prop 19 can raise your children's property taxes on an inherited home. Here's what actually protects the tax base — and what doesn't.

You've heard the phrase: 'Friends don't let friends drive drunk.' The same logic applies to estate planning. According to Caring.com, only 24 percent of Americans have a will. For some of the people you love most, you may be the only person in their life who will ever bring this up. Here's how to do it without making it weird, and what to tell them about what real planning looks like. August is National Make a Will Month, which means this is exactly the right time.

If you have a trust, you still need a will. Here's what a pour-over will does, why it matters, and what happens to your assets if you don't have one.

If you have a trust, you still need a will. Here's what a pour-over will does, why it matters, and what happens to your assets if you don't have one.

Most family estate planning crises aren't caused by bad luck — they're caused by conversations that never happened. Here are the five that matter most.

Most people know a trust avoids probate. But the real differences between a will and a trust go much further — and they matter most when your family needs help fast.

If you own a home — or your parents do — here's what you need to know about mortgages, reverse mortgages, and what happens to the property when someone dies or moves into senior living.