When You’re Named Trustee, the Clock Is Already Running
Most people accept the role of successor trustee because they love and trust the person who asked them. That’s the right reason to say yes. It’s also the last moment the job feels simple. What Fiduciary Duty Actually Means Fiduciary duty is not a formality. It means every decision a trustee makes mu
015: Trust Administration in California: What Every Trustee Needs to Know Before They Start
When a loved one dies and you’re named successor trustee, the clock starts immediately. In this episode, DeDe Soto breaks down the full arc of California trust administration, from gathering assets and notifying beneficiaries to filing tax returns and formally closing the trust. She covers what trus
014: What Every Trustee Needs to Know About Managing a Trust in California
Becoming a trustee after losing a loved one is stressful enough without also discovering you have a legal minefield to cross. In this episode, DeDe Soto breaks down California trust administration from the ground up, covering what it actually means to hold a fiduciary title, how to gather and transf
When Business Succession Planning Goes Wrong, It’s Usually Preventable
Most California business owners have a plan, at least in their heads. The problem is that a plan in your head doesn’t hold up in probate court, doesn’t transfer shares to the right person, and doesn’t keep the business running when you’re incapacitated. Succession planning isn’t a single document. I
013: How California Business Owners Can Transfer Wealth, Protect Assets, and Avoid Probate Court
Business succession planning is where California business owners lose the most money — and most of them never see it coming. In this episode, DeDe Soto, estate planning attorney and founder of the Soto Law Group, walks through the legal tools that protect a business through ownership transfer: LLCs,
Business Succession Planning in California: What Every Business Owner Needs to Know
Most California business owners are experts at building their businesses. Very few are experts at protecting them. Succession planning remains one of the most overlooked areas of estate planning — and the consequences of ignoring it can be devastating for families, employees, and the businesses them
012: Business Succession Planning in California: What Every Business Owner Needs to Know Before It’s Too Late
In this episode of Legacy Protected, DeDe Soto breaks down everything California business owners need to know about business succession planning — and why most of them aren’t as prepared as they think. From LLCs without operating agreements to S corporations with no estate plan attached, DeDe walks
Why Most California Estates End Up in Probate — And How to Avoid It
Probate is one of the most expensive and time-consuming legal processes a California family can face after losing a loved one. What surprises most people is how easily it can be avoided — and how many well-meaning families still end up there anyway. Here’s what you need to know. The Real Cost of Pro
011: 3 Proven Strategies to Keep Your California Estate Out of Probate Court
Probate in California is expensive, time-consuming, and — with the right planning — almost entirely avoidable. In this episode, DeDe Soto breaks down three proven strategies for keeping your estate out of probate court: revocable living trusts, beneficiary designations, and the often-misunderstood r
Protecting What You’ve Built: A Guide to Transferring Real Estate in Newport Beach
For many Southern California families, real estate is the most valuable asset in an estate. But transferring property — whether a vacation home, rental, or primary residence — is rarely as simple as it looks. Without the right plan in place, families can find themselves in probate court, tax trouble