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Estate planning was fairly simple in the days when two people got married, had children, and spent their lives together until the end. Each spouse would create an estate planning document leaving everything to the other.

When a loved one dies, it’s a time of great grief and sorrow, but it also opens a new chapter of responsibility for what happens next.

California is a community property state, meaning that married couples when divorcing are subject to a 50/50 split of assets and debts. However, the assets and debts must have been acquired by either spouse during the time of marriage.

Estate planning is the process of creating the legal documents necessary to designate how you want your property and assets to be divided among your loved ones when you’re gone. Some estate plans are straightforward, others not.

Assisted living is a program for the elderly and the disabled that provides services of a nursing facility but in a more home-like atmosphere. Nursing homes are generally focused on providing medical care, sometimes 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Those who remarry face new choices in how to approach estate planning. If they had a previous will or trust, it will need to be revoked, rewritten, or amended to account for life’s new realities. If there is no estate planning instrument in place, such as a will or living trust, then it’s time to begin planning for the future, which includes provisions for when you pass away.

Suppose you’ve been named the personal representative in someone’s last will and testament, and the person has just passed away. It is now your responsibility to present the will to the Superior Court where the decedent resided. The court will then oversee probate proceedings to administer the will, and you will be named executor of the estate.

According to just about every poll and survey taken, fewer than half of all Americans have created a last will and testament. The range of those who do usually comes in between 30 and 40 percent. When those without a will are asked why, they often say they don’t know how, or they don’t have enough assets to leave to anyone.

Estate planning involves ensuring your loved ones are taken care of after you’re gone and that your estate is distributed as you wish. This naturally involves your family members and others for whom you care, but what if you have a treasured pet that you may outlive.

If you own a business, co-own a business, or are a partner in a business, you certainly want to prepare for the day when you decide to retire, or for an unforeseen event that could leave ownership and operation of the enterprise in limbo.