Trusts are assets, at least you should think of them that way. Trusts are like any other assets we own -- they must be maintained after we buy them. If you keep them tuned up and give them some TLC, you’ll get more out of... Continue
Many California residents own real estate outside of the state. They may have a second home in Arizona, an investment property in Oregon, a shared condominium in Nevada or a timeshare in Hawaii. Why is this important? Because your state of domicile, which is the... Continue
One question I often get is, “When should I update my estate planning documents?” While there is no hard and fast rule, there are some suggestions about when you should consult with your attorney or simply review the documents yourself to see if they need... Continue
In the age of the internet, just about anything you can think of (and quite a few things you wouldn’t dream of) can be bought, sold, prepared or conceived of online. Not surprisingly, you can even prepare your estate plan online. But should you? Right... Continue
By definition, if an estate plan is triggered, it is because of the death or serious disability of a family member or close friend. Therefore, most estate plans are administered during periods of great grief and mourning. Those who survive the deceased are charged not... Continue
Many potential clients I meet with tell me that they are “not ready” to create a will yet. For one reason or another, they are not able to commit to a decision. It is this mentality that keeps them from creating any sort of estate... Continue
The simplest estate plans to create are those where a married couple has adult children and everyone gets along. The scheme is usually straight forward – all to the surviving spouse and then to the kids equally with one of the children acting as successor... Continue
One often overlooked area of estate planning is your custodial accounts: individual retirement accounts (IRAs); 401(k)s, etc.; life insurance; annuities and pensions. Many estate planners don’t pay attention to them because what happens to the money in these accounts is not dictated by the usual... Continue
It’s important to choose your beneficiaries wisely and not allow your estate planning attorney to make basic assumptions about who they will be. Attorneys will ask who you’d like to inherit your property and most will ask you to name a second beneficiary in case... Continue
As part of my estate planning practice I often review people’s existing estate plans as well as create new ones. People often ask me to review one particular document such as a will or trust or even their entire existing estate plan. In reviewing these... Continue