Protecting Your Children
Your estate plan must safeguard your children, who are counting on you to ensure that they will always be taken care of by the people you want, in a way you want, no matter what happens.
At Sky Unlimited Legal Advisory, we are very passionate about planning for the well-being and care of the children you love. Over the years, we have developed an expertise for advance planning for the care of children in the event of the death of one or both parents. Without this advance legal planning, unthinkable events can (and do) take place:
Ø Your children could be placed into the care of the California Department of Social Services ... even if you have a will in place ... and even if you have a living trust! (Likely this circumstance would be temporary, but you never want your children in the care of strangers - not even for a minute.)
Ø Your children could be put into the custody and care of someone you would never choose, like the one family member who may have good intentions, but you don't want raising your kids!
Ø A judge, who doesn't know you or your family, will decide who will raise your kids, even if it is the last person you would ever want.
Ø A long and nasty custody fight could ensure or there might be a challenge to the guardians you have designated.
Ø Up to 5% of the value of your gross assets could be lost to court costs and other unnecessary fees through the probate process that can tie up your assets for years and deprive your kids of the resources they need.
Ø Unscrupulous people can take advantage of children when they turn 18 and get a check for whatever assets are left.
With advance legal planning, these problems and more can be avoided. A majority of estate planning attorneys do not address these issues. They do not plan from a parent's perspective and they do not have the expertise to do a comprehensive job.
Yes, these occurrences scare us, too! That is why we offer a Kids Protection Plan® with every estate plan we do for families with minor children.
Our Kids Protection Plan® includes a specific set of instructions, legal documents, and an ID card for your wallet. If you are in an accident, your Kids Protection Plan will help to make sure your children are never taken into the custody of Child Protective Services or anyone else you would not want. These clear instructions inform the Police and ensure your children will be raised by people you have selected.
To get started with your Kids Protection Plan®, please call us at (650) 761-0992 today or book a Family Wealth Planning Session® online now.
When it's all for the Kids
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This Father’s Day Take Your Provision One Step Further
Father's Day arrives each June filled with barbecues, baseball games, and heartfelt cards celebrating the dads who shape our lives. While ties and tool sets make thoughtful gifts, what if we turn the tables altogether and put the family resources toward a far more meaningful gift this Father's Day—one that helps dad feel confident that he’s stepping into his best self, and providing for the family no matter what.
As a father, your number one goal is likely to provide for your family in the best way you possibly can. But have you taken steps to ensure the people you love will be cared for if something
happens to you? And, if you have, are those steps the right steps or are they false security that will leave your family with a mess you wouldn’t wish on anyone?
This Father's Day offers the perfect opportunity to explore how estate planning done the right way becomes the ultimate expression of fatherly love and provision.
THE WEIGHT OF FATHERLY RESPONSIBILITY
Being a father means carrying an invisible weight that never truly lifts from your shoulders. From the moment your first child arrives, you become acutely aware that others depend on you, not just for today's needs but for tomorrow's security. This awareness often intensifies as your children grow and your responsibilities multiply.
Pride Month & Planning: Securing a Legacy That Lasts
As Pride Month begins, we celebrate the progress made toward equality while acknowledging that LGBTQIA+ individuals, couples, and families still face unique legal challenges. Despite the landmark decision in Obergefell v. Hodges that established marriage equality nationwide, gaps in legal protection remain that can affect everything from healthcare decisions to inheritance rights. Having proper estate planning is not just important—it's essential for ensuring your wishes are honored and your loved ones are protected.
THE EVOLVING LEGAL LANDSCAPE FOR LGBTQIA+ FAMILIES
While significant legal advancements have been made for LGBTQIA+ individuals and families, the legal landscape remains complex and varies by state. Marriage equality was a tremendous step
forward, but it didn't solve all the legal challenges faced by the community.
For example, in some states, legal recognition of non-biological parents in same-sex relationships can be tenuous without proper documentation. Healthcare directives might be questioned if
estranged biological family members challenge a partner's right to make decisions. Assets without proper beneficiary designations could end up with distant relatives instead of long-term
partners.
Many LGBTQIA+ adults in the U.S. are in committed relationships or raising children. They are also often less likely to have estate plans in place compared to their heterosexual counterparts,
leaving them particularly vulnerable to legal complications.
Relying solely on marriage equality for protection is insufficient. Without comprehensive planning, you risk leaving crucial decisions about your health, assets, and loved ones to a system that may not align with your wishes. But with proper Life & Legacy Planning, you can create legal safeguards that respect your unique family structure and ensure your voice is heard.
The Missing Will Mystery: How Zappos CEO’s Estate Chaos Could Have Been Avoided
Imagine this: You've built a business empire worth hundreds of millions of dollars, transformed a city's downtown area, and touched countless lives with your vision and generosity.
Then, unexpectedly, you pass away—and nearly five years later, a will you may have created suddenly appears.
Meanwhile, your family has been battling creditors, former associates, and mounting legal fees in a probate nightmare that has cost millions and years to manage.
This isn't the plot of a legal thriller—it's the real-life saga of Tony Hsieh, the former Zappos CEO who died in November 2020 at age 46. After years of his estate being managed under the
assumption he died without a will, a document dated March 2015 mysteriously surfaced in February 2025.
This surprising twist could completely upend the years of legal proceedings that have already occurred. The story serves as a powerful reminder of why proper estate planning, with regular reviews and updates, is critical no matter your age or wealth status. Let's explore what went wrong and how a Life & Legacy Plan could have prevented such chaos.
A Mother's Legacy: Estate Planning as Your Greatest Expression of Love
When we think about Mother's Day, we often picture breakfast in bed, handmade cards, and bouquets of fresh flowers. But what if there was a way for mom to express her love and care that extends far beyond their lifetime?
This is where thoughtful estate planning enters the picture—not as a cold legal process, but as one of the most profound expressions of motherly love possible. How, you may ask? Let’s dive in and find out.
A MOTHER'S CARE EXPRESSED THROUGH LEGAL PLANNING
Think about how a mother typically plans her day—ensuring lunches are packed, coordinating activities, helping with homework, and keeping track of appointments. This intricate daily choreography stems from a deep well of love and the desire to see the family thrive. Estate planning follows that same pattern of thoughtful care, just on a longer timeline.
When mom creates an estate plan, she's essentially saying, "I want to continue caring for you, even when I'm no longer physically present." It's the ultimate expression of maternal care. In my experience, I've seen many mothers recognize that planning for their children's future isn't optional—it's as essential as putting food on the table today.
The $700 Million Mistake: Why an Asset Inventory Is an Essential Part of Your Estate Plan
Imagine accidentally throwing away $700 million. While it sounds like the plot of a movie, this nightmare scenario has become a reality for James Howells, a computer engineer from Wales, who has now spent more than a decade fighting to recover a discarded hard drive containing the private key to his Bitcoin fortune.
Here’s what happened. In 2013, Howells mistakenly discarded a hard drive during an office cleanup. What he didn't realize until too late was that this particular drive contained the only copy of his private key to access 8,000 Bitcoin (BTC) he had mined years earlier. When he realized his error months later, the cryptocurrency had already skyrocketed in value.
Today, those 8,000 BTC would be worth approximately $700 million, and as much as $848,000 at the BTC all-time high thus far. It’s very likely that Howells’ lost BTC will be worth over $1 billion at some point.
For over a decade, Howells has tried everything to recover his lost fortune – begging local officials for permission to search the landfill, offering to share the recovered BTC with the city, taking his case to court, and even proposing to buy the entire landfill.