Free Resources
We're Here to Help You Understand
Maria has put together these free guides and tools to help you make sense of your options. No jargon, no pressure. Take what you need — and call us when you're ready.
Maria has put together these free guides and tools to help you make sense of your options. No jargon, no pressure. Take what you need — and call us when you're ready.
These free tools can help you understand where you stand. They are not a substitute for legal advice, but they are a good place to start.
Find out what California probate would cost your family. Enter the estimated total value of the estate (home, accounts, investments) and see the statutory fees.
Want to avoid these costs? A living trust can help your family skip probate entirely. Talk to Maria about a trust.
Answer 8 quick yes/no questions to see how prepared your family is right now.
Each guide is written in plain language. Enter your name and email and we will send it right to your inbox. We never share your information with anyone.
A step by step checklist of everything your family needs: trusts, wills, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, beneficiary designations, and more.
How probate works, what it costs, how long it takes, and the steps you can take today to help your family avoid it entirely.
How LLCs, irrevocable trusts, and liability shields work together to protect your business and personal assets from lawsuits and creditors.
How to provide for a loved one with disabilities without disqualifying them from SSI, Medi-Cal, or other government benefits. First party, third party, and pooled trust options explained.
A clear comparison of Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy in California: eligibility, timeline, what you keep, and how to decide which path is right for you.
How to use trusts and wills to protect your spouse, your children, and your stepchildren. QTIP trusts, separate property, and avoiding unintended disinheritance.
A trust only protects what it actually owns. These guides cover what a trust does, what it costs to skip one, and how to make sure yours is really funded.
Signing the trust is only half the job. Twelve parts covering deeds, bank and brokerage accounts, retirement beneficiaries, business interests, and the assets that should stay out, plus a printable PDF.
Unlock the ChecklistA side by side look at cost, timeline, and privacy, so you can see exactly what your family avoids by planning ahead.
Read the GuideHow your home is titled decides whether it passes smoothly or goes through court. Check yours against this list before anything else.
Read the ChecklistStatutory probate fees are charged on the gross value of an estate, not your equity. Enter a number and see what probate would actually cost your family.
Run the NumbersFraud prevention starts with awareness, and estate planning starts with preparation. What to do when a scam is happening right now, and the safeguards that protect the day awareness is no longer enough.
When a scammer finds someone you love. The three urgent steps, both free guides, and a free family protection review, all in one place, in English and Spanish.
Start HereSeven parts and 28 steps for the first days: the conversation that keeps trust, the bank calls that slow the money, where to report, and the legal tools, plus a printable PDF.
Read the PlanThe five safeguards that work the day you can no longer protect yourself, with a printable worksheet for naming trusted contacts and fiduciaries.
Read the GuideWhy romance scams work on smart, capable people, what California families can and cannot legally do, and the conversation that actually helps.
Read the ArticleNo email required. These guides are free to read, print, and share with everyone in your family who drives.
The coverage that actually protects your family, in plain English: liability limits, uninsured motorist, MedPay, and more, plus a free policy review.
Start HereEvery coverage on your policy in plain language: liability, UM and UIM, collision, comprehensive, MedPay, rental, gap, and umbrella, with who needs each one.
Read the GuideA calm, step by step checklist for the scene of a crash, plus a printable wallet card to keep in the glovebox, made for new drivers too.
Read the ChecklistA neutral, sourced snapshot of the major California insurers: financial strength, customer satisfaction, and how to compare them the right way.
See the ComparisonThere is a lot of misinformation out there. Here is what Maria wants you to know.
Everyone who owns property, has children, or has any assets at all needs an estate plan. Without one, the state of California decides what happens to everything you have built — and your family will go through probate, which is public, expensive, and slow.
A will goes through probate. It does not avoid it. Only a living trust allows your assets to transfer to your loved ones without the cost, delay, and public exposure of the probate process.
In California, it depends on whether assets are community property or separate property. Without a plan, your spouse may receive only a portion of your estate, with the rest going to children, parents, or siblings under California's intestacy laws.
Most people who file for bankruptcy begin rebuilding their credit within 2 years. Bankruptcy is a legal protection designed to give people a fresh start. It is not a failure — it is a tool, and it works.
DIY trusts are often unfunded, improperly drafted, or legally invalid. If the trust is not funded (meaning your assets are not retitled into it), it provides no protection at all. Many of our clients come to us after discovering their online trust would not hold up.
A power of attorney expires the moment you pass away. After that, only a successor trustee (if you have a trust) or a court-appointed executor (if you do not) has authority over your affairs. This is one of the most common misunderstandings in estate planning.
Already in Trouble?
If you created a DIY trust, transferred assets without legal advice, or feel like your plan might have gaps — you are not alone. Many of our clients come to us after realizing something is not right. The good news: most situations can be fixed. Maria has helped families untangle complicated situations, and she can help you, too.
Let's Review Your SituationIn depth articles on the estate planning topics that matter most to California families.
QTIP trusts, separate vs. community property, and how to ensure every family member is protected in your estate plan.
Probate fees, court costs, family disputes, and lost privacy. Real dollar examples for a $1M estate in California.
Comparing pooled trust structures with individual SNTs. Cost, flexibility, and when to use each option.
Have a suggestion, found something that needs fixing, or want to share an idea? Let us know.
Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with Maria. We will listen, explain your options, and help you build a plan that fits your family.