Legacy Protected

Navigating Estate Planning and Probate in Southern California

Welcome to *Legacy Protected*, the podcast by The Soto Law Group, dedicated to empowering Southern California families and business owners through essential insights on estate planning, probate, trust and probate litigation, and trust administration. In each episode, we’ll demystify the complex legal landscape that surrounds asset protection, inheritance preservation, and care for vulnerable family members.

We’ll answer questions such as:
  • What is the difference between a Will and a Trust, and why do so many people confuse them?
  • Why do I need a Trust?
  • What is Probate, and how can it affect my estate?
  • What is the difference between a revocable and an irrevocable trust?
  • Who should be the Trustee or Executor in our estate plan?
  • When should our children be allowed to take charge of their inheritance?
  • Should the Guardian of our children also manage their financial affairs?
Join us as we discuss the customized strategies that can shield your legacy, safeguard minor children, and provide peace of mind for you and your loved ones. Whether you’re planning for the future, facing probate, or supporting an elderly loved one, we offer expert guidance and compassionate solutions to help you protect what matters most.

018: Naming a Guardian for Your Children: What California Parents Need to Know

Most parents put off naming a guardian for their children because the topic feels heavy to sit with. DeDe Soto breaks down why that delay carries real risk, walking through what happens when a judge, not a parent, ends up deciding who raises the kids after a tragedy strikes. DeDe covers the difference between short-term […]

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017: What Happens to Your Kids Without a Legal Guardianship Plan in California

Many parents believe a will is enough to protect their children if the unthinkable happens. DeDe Soto explains why that assumption falls short, and what really happens to minor children in the first hours after a tragedy when no legal guardianship plan exists. In this episode, DeDe walks through the difference between guardianship of the […]

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016: How a Special Needs Trust Protects Your Child’s Government Benefits in California

Today on Legacy Protected, DeDe Soto breaks down one of the most misunderstood tools in family planning: the special needs trust. For parents of children with disabilities, a standard will is not just insufficient, it can strip a child of critical government benefits like SSI and Medi-Cal the moment an inheritance lands in their name. […]

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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...

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,...