We’ve said it before on our blog and we’ll say it again: It doesn’t matter whether you’re a billionaire business executive or a teacher with a modest salary, it doesn’t matter whether you’re the patriarch of a large family or a stay-at-home mom of a newborn, a revocable living trust may be exactly what your… Read More »
Posts Categorized: Estate Planning
Estate Planning for Beginners Part 1: Wills
Every new project has to begin somewhere, and most newcomers to estate planning choose to begin with a will. A will is the most well-known of all estate planning documents, it is generally the simplest and easiest to create (although some wills can be very lengthy and complex), and in most states a will can… Read More »
The Importance of Estate Planning for New Parents
News sources such as the Washington Post entertainment section promise that this summer will be flush with celebrity newborns and proud mamas and papas. Some of the stars expecting additions to their families include Natalie Portman, Kate Hudson, Jennifer Connelly and more. Here at our office we wonder how many of these new parents will… Read More »
One Simple Step Now Can Save Time and Money Later
Being named as the executor of the estate of a deceased loved one comes with many challenges, including dealing with the probate system, and refereeing unhappy family members; but one of the most difficult (and least discussed) challenges is sorting through the plethora of paper and information that people collect over the course of a… Read More »
5 Missteps That Can Sabotage Your Estate Plan
When it comes to protecting your wealth and your family creating an estate plan is one of the most important things you can do. An estate plan is your key to ensuring that your hard-earned assets are distributed (or saved or invested) as you designate. An estate plan is your family’s safety net. Unfortunately, too… Read More »
Getting Your Affairs in Order—How to Prevent Elder Abuse
ABC news recently shared a news story about actor Mickey Rooney which brought the sad fact of elder abuse to the forefront. The article describes how Rooney “was granted court protection from stepson Chris Aber and his stepdaughter Christina Aber, after he filed a case against them charging verbal, emotional and financial abuse, and for… Read More »
Take Advantage of New Tax Act Opportunities
In December of last year President Obama signed the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Chttp://presidentreation Act of 2010 (the “Act”), which encompasses far more than its name would imply. For the past few months our office has been diligently researching the many ways this act might impact our clients, and what we’ve found… Read More »
Contemplations on Advanced Planning After the Recent Tucson Tragedy
Ever since the tragic shooting in Tucson earlier this month I’ve been thinking about Gabrielle Giffords and her family, as well as the other victims of the shooting. Thankfully, Ms. Giffords survived and by all accounts is making an amazing recovery. The most recent news reports that her condition has been updated from “serious” to… Read More »
Omission of Husband in Elizabeth Edwards’ Will is Not the Whole Story
Elizabeth Edwards was a thoughtful woman who always seemed sure of what she wanted, so when it was revealed earlier this month that her will left everything to her children, with no mention of her husband John Edwards, nobody doubted she knew exactly what she was doing. There has been no end of speculation in… Read More »
Taxes and Estate Planning for Non-Traditional Couples
Marriage—and the rights and privileges it confers—is a hot topic in California right now, especially as pertains to gay marriage. But the truth is that anyone who pays taxes knows that marital status is always a hot topic, because when it comes to the state and federal government, marital status carries a lot of weight…. Read More »