Surviving Spouses and their Trusts
Does a Trust Have to Be Settled by a Surviving Spouse? Many people believe that when one spouse dies, nothing needs to be done to “settle” or “administer” a trust. NOT TRUE. Settling or administering a trust refers to the things that must be done when the first spouse...
Verifying Your Assets in your Trust
Regularly Check Your Trust Account's Roles It is always a good idea to take some time to review who you have identified in your estate planning documents as playing critical roles – guardians for minor children, successor trustees, executors, power of attorney agents,...
Gift Tax and Federal Law
What You Should Know About Estate Tax and Gift Tax Exemptions How did it feel falling off the “Fiscal Cliff”? Most people didn’t notice. On January 1, 2013, Congress passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. ESTATE TAX: The estate tax and gift tax exemptions...
Estate Planning and Password Protection
How to Manage Sensitive Log In Information and Passwords for Estate Planning While not directly related to estate planning, a more controversial issue arises about passwords. While any IT or tech person will advise against making a comprehensive list of your accounts...
Don’t Fall Victim to Property Deed Solicitations
Warning About Home Owner Deed Offers in the Mail Many of our clients have reported receiving unsolicited mail or e-mail from companies telling them it is vital to have a certified copy of their property deed. The solicitations will appear official-looking and falsely...
How to Prevent Falls
How Many People Age 65+ Fall Each Year? Did you know that every 35 minutes an older American dies as the result of a fall? The deaths of newscaster David Brinkley, the “weight-loss guru,” Doctor Robert Atkins, i.e., the famous “Atkins diet,” and former Washington Post...
What is Hospice Care?
What You Need to Know About Hospice in California Many people have heard the term “hospice,” but most don’t really understand what it means. Even though this is a very sad and difficult issue, it is very important that you have enough advanced knowledge and advanced...
4 Pitfall Mistakes to Avoid When Estate Planning
These Estate Planning Mistakes Can Be Avoided Estate planning mistakes can range from not having an estate plan to having an outdated plan, to having an incomplete plan. Protecting your assets and financial future is a fluid situation as laws and regulations change on...
Are Living Trusts Public or Private Records?
Probate is Public and Living Trusts are Private One common question our law office receives is, "Is a living trust a public or private record in California?” Most people assume they are public records similar to a will and that they must be recorded with the courts....
What is a Power of Attorney?
What Essential Documents are Included in an Estate Plan? When you start an estate plan there are many forms you need to create in order to protect your assets and ensure your family inherits your property after passing away. Any good estate plan will include a living...
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