One of the biggest myths and most understood concepts that we come across when we talk to people about estate planning is that a trust will avoid probate. That is only partially true, but it’s not the whole story. Trusts by themselves cannot and do not avoid...
When it comes to refinancing a mortgage there are a lot of things to think about as well as documentation to organize for you lender and then sign. Most often everyone is in a rush – the lender to process the loan and you to just get the process over and done so...
When a California home or other real estate is sold or transferred to another person, with the exception of some limited circumstances, property taxes will increase due to triggering a reassessment of the Prop. 13 tax base. The good news is that these exemptions...
Dealing with the loss of a spouse is one of the most difficult situations a person can face. The grief alone can be crippling and adding to the stress is the need to deal with funeral arrangements and any other tasks that may have arisen during your spouse’s final...
The SECURE Act has a lot of benefits, but now for the bad news. Under the SECURE Act, younger beneficiaries can no longer “stretch” the IRA they inherit. This was a process by which a beneficiary would take small required minimum distributions over his or her...
Have you heard about the new SECURE Act (effective January 1, 2020). Do you know how it will affect your retirement accounts and impact your beneficiaries? Let us explain. In this short video, you learn important highlights about: What the law changed – both the...
This is the first in a series of videos on the SECURE Act and its impact on your retirement accounts and what that means for you and your family. The “Secure Act” was part of a larger law that passed with (rare) bipartisan support in late-December 2019 and...
Those who care for elderly family members and loved ones face a difficult task, one made even more difficult when they have to care for their own children as well. In this position, caregivers can become exhausted and burnt out. As an experienced elder lawyer, I often...
As an Orange County estate planning attorney, I often see the results of when someone fails to plan for an unexpected disability. People tend to think about estate planning in terms of retirement and what happens to their assets after they die, but many don’t consider...
Many of us will be visiting aging parents and other family members this week for Thanksgiving. Some may have very obvious health needs, while others it might not be so obvious. Our older relatives might be too proud to ask for help, too private to share challenges,...
Are you being kept up at night worried about how best to protect your family if something happened to you? Have you ever thought that creating a trust just sounded…well…complicated? Do you wonder if it might be more bother than it’s worth? You are...
With the fall season in full swing and the year-end rapidly approaching, it’s an excellent time to review your legal, financial, and personal affairs. In this video, we share a legal affairs and estate planning checklist to ensure your planning meets your needs and is...
There are many common estate planning mistakes to be made. We have discussed them at length before (DIY planning, joint tenancy perils, failing to complete trust funding, etc). In this video, I talk about how these mistakes tend to overshadow what I believe to be the...
I get asked this question a lot: “If I have a trust, do I need a will; if so why?” Most people are familiar with a basic Last Will and Testament. However, very few people know about or have heard of a Pour-Over Will. Essentially, a Pour-Over Will is used...
A number of our clients in Orange County and throughout Southern California own any real estate in addition to their home. When we first met them, they were losing sleep worried about your rental property (or properties) being more of a liability than an asset. Yes,...
Irvine Will and Trust Lawyer: 5 Essentials of Estate PlanningApril 6, 2020
Orange County Estate Planning Attorney Answers, “Are You Liable for Your Deceased Spouse’s Debts?”March 26, 2020
What to Know Before Transferring Ownership of Your Home in CaliforniaMarch 19, 2020
Important Updates About COVID-19 for Our Clients and CommunityMarch 18, 2020
How a Pour Over Will Works with a Living TrustMarch 11, 2020