Blog
2024 Gift and Estate Tax Exemption
The Estate and Gift Tax Exemption and Annual Gift Exclusion 1997-2024.
Why Leave Your Children an Inheritance?
If you have the means, would you get more joy out of giving while you are alive?
Don't Name Your Living Trust as IRA Beneficiary
Keep It Simple. Name Individuals as Your IRA Beneficiaries.
7 Ways to Make Charitable Gifts
Giving helps others, reduces your taxes, and as a bonus, lifts your soul.
Don't Let Your Uncle Secretly Marry His Estate Planning Attorney
Predatory marriages are on the rise.
7 Reasons Why a Living Trust is Better Than a Transfer on Death Deed
Be careful. Transfer on death deeds are not the quick fix some think they are.
A Letter to My Dad's Financial Planner
Your clients lean on you for their estate planning. This is a big responsibility, and if it's not done right, the consequences are dire.
How to Avoid Probate Without a Living Trust
It may be more difficult and riskier than simply using a living trust.
Five of the Biggest Estate Planning Mistakes
Avoid these estate planning mistakes to protect your family and assets.
Estate Planning: When Is It Too Late?
When your parent is no longer mentally competent, it's too late for their estate planning.
Tired of Paying Taxes on Your RMDs?
Using a Qualified Charitable Deduction will reduce your taxes and help your favorite charity.
Avoid Surprises in Your Estate Plan
To keep the good vibes with your family legacy, don't drop a bomb on your estate plan.
Why You Need an Estate Planning Attorney
Discover why using an estate planning attorney is crucial for securing your financial and family legacy.
Am I an Executor or a Trustee?
Definition of estate planning terms: Trustee, Executor, Agent, Grantor and Beneficiary
The #1 Reason People Don't Do Estate Planning
Estate planning does not have to be complicated. We make it simple.
Protect Your Children's Inheritance from Divorce
You should include asset protection trusts in your living trust to protect your children's inheritance.
Make Sure Your Parents Have an Updated Living Trust
If your parents do not have a living trust, you will suffer the consequences. If you can, you need to encourage them to do their estate planning.
What If I Don't Have an Estate Plan?
What Happens If I Am a California Resident and I Don't Have a Will or Living Trust?
California No Contest Clause
California courts may not always enforce a no contest clause, but a no contest clause can still be an effective way to block a lawsuit.
California Estate Planning Taxes
California estate planning requires an understanding of estate, gift, capital gains, and property taxes.
How to Help Your Parent as She Gets Older
Your older parent may need help with her finances and living trust estate plan.
A Few Hours Will Change Your Family's Life
You love your family and you've worked so hard. Don't let it end badly.
Don't Let Your Dad Marry Your Sister
Elder abuse by marriage? The strange case of California State Senator Ralph Dills
Banks Don't Like Durable Powers of Attorney
Why banks struggle to accept durable powers of attorney
How to Name Your IRA Beneficiaries
Naming primary and contingent beneficiaries of your IRA is an essential part of your estate plan
Why You Need a Financial Advisor for Estate Planning
Financial Advisors are the secret sauce that makes your estate plan work
Recapture the Stretch-Out IRA with a CRT as Beneficiary of Your IRA
Maximize your IRA for your children with a Charitable Remainder Trust
Beware of the Bypass Trust in Your Living Trust
You may need to amend your living trust if it has a bypass trust provision
How Married Couples Can Divide Their Living Trust Assets
All to the surviving spouse, or to bypass trust or QTIP trust?
2023 Gift and Estate Tax Exemption
2023 gift and estate tax exemption and annual gift exclusion. How much can you gift without a gift tax?
How to Fund Your California Living Trust Checklist
How to transfer your assets to your California Living Trust to avoid probate
How to Choose a Successor Trustee
Choosing the right successor trustee for your living trust
California Estate Planning
An overview on estate planning. Why to do it. How to do it. When to do it.
Why Funding Your Trust Is Important and How to Do It
A brief overview of how to fund your living trust
Heggstad Petition - How to Avoid Probate
If you don't transfer your assets to your living trust, but you have a writing expressing your intent to do so, then your successor trustee can file...
California Trust Administration Checklist
Checklist of what a trustee should do during trust administration
California Trust Administration
If you have a living trust, your trustee must begin the trust administration when you pass away.
Should You Use a Professional Trustee?
Using a Professional Trustee or Fiduciary is a good choice if you don't have family members or friends who can be your successor Trustee
How to Avoid California Probate with a Revocable Living Trust
California Probate is time consuming and expensive. A Revocable living trust will help your family avoid probate.
California Asset Protection Trust
A Revocable Living Trust will help you avoid probate, but adding asset protection trust provisions will significantly protect your children's...
California Probate
California probate is complicated, time consuming and very expensive. A typical California probate could take 18 months and cost over $30,000 -...
How to Create Your California Estate Plan
You have many options on how to set up your estate plan - DIY estate planning websites, traditional law firm or work with an attorney virtually
New IRS Regulation Allows 5 Years to Elect Portability
The IRS just issued Revenue Procedure 2022-32, which allows a surviving spouse to elect "portability." Read on to find out what this means for you.
How To Choose An Estate Planning Attorney
An estate planning attorney will create a plan that eliminates stress and serves your needs. This guide will help you choose an estate planning...
10 Common Estate Planning Mistakes to Avoid
Knowing what to watch out for will help you avoid the most common estate planning mistakes. Understanding common Estate Planning mistakes can help...
What Does an Estate Planning Attorney Do?
An estate planning attorney is a licensed legal professional that thoroughly understands the state and federal laws that govern the assessment,...
What are The Different Types of Wills?
If you have a small estate a will may be enough. If you have a living trust, you will need a pour-over will.
Estate Planning for Blended Families
Blended family estate planning presents challenges, and one size fits all estate plans may not work.
Get a Durable Power of Attorney to Avoid Conservatorship
If you have already created a Durable Power of Attorney, you should not need a conservatorship.
What If You Don't Have an Estate Plan?
What happens if you don’t prepare an estate plan? The state of California has a default plan for you, it's called intestacy.
Divorce Protection and Lawsuit Protection for Your Family
Lifetime Protection Trusts are designed to protect your loved ones and their inheritance from potential divorce claims and lawsuits.
Estate Planning Checklist for California Residents
When you pass away, your estate goes through the probate process, and the probate court ensures that your executor distributes your assets per your...
How Does High Net Worth Estate Planning Work?
If you have a high net worth estate, your estate plan may need more than a revocable living trust.
Do I Need an Estate Plan?
Almost everyone needs an estate plan. Many people think the term “estate plan” is something only high net worth individuals need. Not true.
No More Stretch-Out IRA: The Secure Act Changed the Rules
The Secure Act has significantly changed the rules for IRA beneficiaries. Before the Secure Act, beneficiaries could use the Life Expectancy Rule -...
Living Trust Administration Basics
What to do when your parent dies with a living trust
How to Choose a Guardian and Trustee
How to choose the right guardian and trustee in your living trust when you don't have a perfect guardian or trustee.
California Proposition 19
California Prop 19 eliminates Parent Child Reassessment Exclusion but Expands Base Year Value Transfer
Protect Your College Kids
Young California adults need a durable power of attorney, health care directive and HIPAA.
Portability - How to Eliminate Estate Tax
Filing estate tax return and electing portability when first spouse dies could eliminate future estate tax if the gift and estate tax exemption drops.
2022 Gift and Estate Tax Exemption
2022 gift and estate tax exemption and annual gift exclusion. How much can you gift without a gift tax?
Living Trust or Will?
If you own a home in California, you'll need a living trust to avoid probate.
Be Careful if You Refinance
Keep title of your home in your revocable living trust after you refinance