Sequoia Estate Planning Inc.

10/19/2026

It’s National Estate Planning Awareness Week.

Estate planning can sound like it is mostly about documents, property and money. But at its heart, it is about people.

It is choosing who can care for your children.

It is giving someone you trust the ability to help during an emergency.

It is leaving clear instructions instead of unanswered questions.

It is protecting a spouse, child, family member or cause that matters deeply to you.

And, whenever possible, it is helping your family avoid an unnecessary probate process.

You don’t have to be wealthy, retired or facing a health crisis to make a plan. If you are an adult with people you love, a home, children or wishes about your own care, estate planning is worth considering.

Your legacy is more than just the things you leave behind.

10/13/2026

“My estate isn’t large enough to worry about probate.”
In California, homeowners are often surprised by how quickly the value of a house can make an estate more complicated—even when there is still a mortgage.
California now offers a simplified court procedure for certain qualifying primary residences valued up to $750,000. That change may help some families, but it does not mean every home under that amount automatically avoids court, expense or delay. Specific requirements still apply.
Homes above the limit—and properties that do not qualify—may still require formal probate if no other planning is in place.
The better question isn’t simply, “How much am I worth?”
It is: “How is my property titled, and what will happen to it when I die?”
A little planning today can make an enormous difference for the people you leave behind.

10/08/2026

When someone passes away, families are often left with two very different responsibilities: grieving their loss and figuring out what to do next.
You may be wondering:
• Is there a will or trust?
• Who is legally allowed to handle the property?
• Does a probate case need to be opened?
• What happens to the house?
• How are bills and creditors handled?
• What deadlines should we know about?
You do not need to have all the answers before speaking with an attorney. In fact, helping you identify the right questions is part of our job.
Some estates require formal probate. Others may qualify for a simpler procedure or may be administered through a trust. The right path depends on the property, its value, how it is titled and the documents that were left behind.
If your family is facing this situation, Sequoia Estate Planning is here to help you understand the next step.

10/05/2026

You signed your living trust. That means you’re finished…right?
Not quite.
For a trust to help an asset avoid probate, the asset generally needs to be properly titled in the trust or otherwise coordinated with your estate plan.
That may mean preparing and recording a new deed for real estate, confirming account ownership, reviewing beneficiary designations and keeping records of newly acquired property.
We regularly meet people who created a trust years ago but never completed—or maintained—the funding process. Unfortunately, their families may not discover the problem until after a death.
If you have a trust, take a moment to ask:
“Is our home actually titled in the name of our trust?”
If you don’t know, that is a very worthwhile question to have answered.

09/29/2026

One of the most common estate-planning misunderstandings we hear is:
“I have a will, so my family won’t have to go through probate.”
In California, a will generally does not avoid probate. A will tells the court who should receive your property and who you would like to handle your estate—but the court may still need to oversee the process.
A properly prepared and funded living trust can help certain assets pass to your beneficiaries without formal probate. Beneficiary designations, joint ownership and other planning tools may also play a role.
The important word is “properly.” Signing a trust is only part of the job. Your assets also need to be coordinated with the plan.
Estate planning isn’t about collecting documents. It’s about creating a plan that will actually work when your family needs it.

09/24/2026

September is World Alzheimer’s Month—a meaningful reminder that estate planning is also lifetime planning.
A power of attorney and advance health care directive allow you to choose who may help with your finances and medical decisions if you can no longer make or communicate those decisions yourself.
Without the right documents, even a loving and capable family member may not automatically have the authority to step in. In some situations, the family may need to ask a court for help.
These conversations can feel uncomfortable, but making decisions early is a gift. It gives your loved ones direction and allows your own voice to remain at the center of your care.
If you already have an estate plan, this is also a good time to make sure the people you named are still the right people for the job.

09/23/2026

The beginning of fall is a great time for a quick estate-planning checkup.
Ask yourself:
🍂 Have we purchased or sold a home?
🍂 Has anyone in our family married, divorced, been born or passed away?
🍂 Are our chosen trustees and decision-makers still appropriate?
🍂 Are the beneficiaries on our retirement accounts and life insurance current?
🍂 Is our home properly connected to our trust?
🍂 Could our family find our documents if there were an emergency?
You do not necessarily need to rewrite your plan every year. But you should review it periodically and after major changes in your life, family or finances.
A plan created years ago may still be perfectly good—or it may no longer reflect your wishes. A simple review can help you find out.

09/18/2026

09/17/2026

We often think about emergency supplies, evacuation plans and important phone numbers—but legal preparedness matters too.
If you were suddenly unable to make decisions or manage your finances, would someone you trust have the legal authority to help?
A well-rounded estate plan can include:
• A financial power of attorney
• An advance health care directive
• A current list of medications and doctors
• Instructions for accessing important documents
• A plan for your children, pets and property
You don’t need to plan for every possible emergency. You simply need to make it easier for the people you love to step in when you need them.
Not sure whether your plan covers the essentials? Sequoia Estate Planning offers complimentary initial consultations.

09/14/2026

I’m excited to share that Sequoia Estate Planning is a proud sponsor of the 3rd Cebu Music Festival-USA! 🇵🇭🎶
This event is especially meaningful to me because I spent two years living in Cebu as a young adult. I came to love the Cebuano people, their culture, their faith, and their incredible sense of community. My time there had a lasting impact on my life, and it’s an honor to support a celebration that brings the vibrant spirit of Cebu and the Bisaya community right here to Roseville.
Join us for a full day of live music, cultural performances, the colorful Sinulog Parade, delicious food, and dancing!
📅 Saturday, September 19, 2026
⏰ 10:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
📍 The Grounds in Roseville, California
Come enjoy the celebration—and be sure to stop by the Sequoia Estate Planning booth and say maayong adlaw! We would love to meet you.
Learn more and purchase tickets: Cebu Music Festival-USA
—Andrew Nef
Founder and Attorney
Sequoia Estate Planning Inc.