Law Offices of R. Christine Brown, APC

10/19/2026

If something happened tomorrow, would the people you love know what to do? These five documents are how you answer that question before they ever have to ask it. This Estate Planning Awareness Week, check your list:

📝 A will, so your wishes guide what happens to your property and who oversees the process.

🏠 A revocable living trust, so your assets can pass to the people you love privately, without the delays of probate.

💼 A financial power of attorney, so someone you trust can manage bills and accounts if you cannot.

🩺 An Advance Health Care Directive, so your medical wishes are known and honored.

🔐 A HIPAA authorization, so the people you choose can speak with your doctors when it matters most.

Missing one? Not sure if yours still fit your life? This is the week to find out. We can help you check every box.

southbayelderlaw.com
(310) 782-6322

10/18/2026

The jewelry, family photos, china, collectibles, and boxes in the garage may create more family disagreement than the bank account. Personal property is often treated as an afterthought in estate plans, even though it can carry the most emotion.

Here is what LA County families should know.

https://southbayelderlaw.com/how-is-personal-property-handled-when-someone-dies-in-la-county-what-families-often-dont-expect/

10/17/2026

Estate planning is about more than deciding who receives your property. It can also determine who may manage your finances, make medical decisions, and protect the people who depend on you if you become unable to act for yourself.

This guide provides a helpful overview of the essential pieces.

https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/what-is-estate-planning

10/16/2026

No one knows your child the way you do, from the routines and comfort items to the small signs that something is off. While a strong special needs plan protects benefits, it also protects the life your loved one knows and trusts, and makes sure the people stepping in have your knowledge in their hands.

We’re here to help you build a plan around the life your loved one actually lives.

southbayelderlaw.com
(310) 782-6322

10/15/2026

Caring for an aging parent has visible costs and invisible ones. Gas, supplies, missed work, hours spent coordinating appointments, and often one sibling carrying far more than everyone realizes. We explain why documenting caregiving arrangements can help the entire family.

https://southbayelderlaw.com/caring-for-an-aging-parent-in-torrance-what-families-should-know/

10/14/2026

A will is not the only instruction that determines where property goes after death. Beneficiary designations, joint ownership, trusts, and probate can all affect how assets transfer. If those pieces do not work together, the result may be very different from what someone intended.

https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/wealth-management-insights/4-ways-to-pass-on-assets

10/14/2026

10/13/2026

Nobody wants to bring up estate planning at dinner. But the families who never have the conversation are usually the ones left guessing later, digging for accounts, passwords, and wishes nobody wrote down.

You don’t need a script or all the answers. One question starts it: If something happened tomorrow, what would we do first? When the talk is ready to become a plan, we’ll take it from there.

📞 (310) 782-6322
🌐SouthBayElderLaw.com

10/12/2026

You can update your will and still have an old beneficiary form override it. Retirement accounts and life insurance often pass according to the name on the account, not the instructions in your will. It is a small detail with potentially big consequences.

https://southbayelderlaw.com/why-your-will-may-not-control-your-401k-beneficiary-designations-explained/

10/11/2026

Leaving money directly to a loved one with a disability can unintentionally affect eligibility for important public benefits. This article introduces several planning considerations, including letters of intent, ABLE accounts, and special needs trusts.

https://www.fidelity.com/viewpoints/wealth-management/estate-planning-for-special-needs