Finish Your Planning in 2014
If you don’t have an estate plan, a recent article suggests that one of your 2014 resolutions should be to create one. Everybody, without exception, can benefit from the creation of an estate plan. The article discusses several of the many benefits that an estate plan can provide, such as: An estate plan gives the […]
Attorneys Get Paid per Word! And Other Untruths…
Why is my trust so long? As an estate planning attorney who provides comprehensive, solution-oriented planning documents to clients, I get this question almost every week. I have to chuckle, knowing that in the olden days attorneys did get paid per word of each document they created. But not anymore. Most estate planning attorneys work […]
Who Plans Your Funeral
One part of estate planning that can often be overlooked is deciding what will be done for your funeral. This is not a very enjoyable topic to plan out, but leaving it unresolved can result in a dispute among family members during an emotional time. California law is very clear about who has the right […]
Updating your Will with a Codicil
Executing a will is a great way to begin the estate planning process. However, it is important to continually update a will as your circumstances change. Marriage, having children or grandchildren, a major change in your finances, and the sale of a house are all examples of situations where it can become important to update […]
I Have a Will, is my Estate Plan Complete?
More and more individuals are turning to the Internet to cheaply create their Last Will and Testament. Although a will is a vital part of any estate plan, a good estate plan includes more than a will. A recent article discusses three additional documents individuals who just have simple wills should consider executing. […]
Three Ways to Plan for Your Collection
Many people spend countless hours and dollars building up various collections. Although these collections often have significant sentimental and monetary value, the owners often forget to include the collection within their estate plans. A recent article discusses three ways that you can plan for your collection. Sell the Collection This is obviously the most difficult […]
The Intersection of Inheritance and Financial Aid
Assisting a child or grandchild in paying for his or her college education is one of the greatest gifts that can be given through estate planning. This is often accomplished through creating a 529 college savings plan or trust account. As with all estate planning maneuvers, however, these actions do not come without potential consequences. […]
Protecting the Brady Bunch
The Brady Bunch was one of the first famous blended families. Mike had three boys of his ownGreg, Peter, and Bobbyand Carol had three girlsMarsha, Jan, and Cindy. Mike and Carol married and the 6 children came together to make one, big, new family: a blended family. A blended family is a step-family. […]
13 Estate Planning Situations That Call for an Annuity
Many estate plans are designed with the purpose of providing assets for an individual’s loved ones. One popular estate-planning tool through which this goal is often accomplished is the annuity. A recent article discusses 13 situations in which an annuity is the ideal estate-planning tool. Purchase of a Single Premium Immediate Annuity (SIPA) by a […]
Estate Planning for “Non-Traditional” Families
As a recent article explains, “the definition of a traditional nuclear family has been stretched considerably in the last quarter century.” Now more than ever, it is important for individuals to take the time to sit down and create an estate plan that fits his or her unique needs. Blended Families Blended families are families […]