.jpeg)
Choosing an Heir Outside of the Family
Even if you have no preferred heirs, you could still prevent your estate from escheating by nominating alternate beneficiaries. An alternate beneficiary could be:
- A domestic partner
- A close friend
- A personal business
- A charitable trust
- A household pet
However, naming an alternate beneficiary poses some measure of risk. If you have no estate plan, a living relative—no matter how distant—could be entitled to your assets through the process of intestate succession.
Protecting Alternative Heirs With an Effective Estate Plan
An experienced California estate planning lawyer could help you protect your estate from uncertainty by explaining your rights and helping establish any of the following:
- A last will and testament
- An advance health directive
- A durable power of attorney
- A revocable living trust
- A charitable trust
- A 529 education plan
Every estate is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution to estate planning. Nevertheless, an estate plan remains the only effective way to protect an estate from uncertainty and escheatment.
