The One Big Beautiful Bill increases and makes permanent the estate tax exemption. No more uncertainty. And for most people, no more estate tax.
Discover the essentials of California estate planning, including the importance of wills, living trusts, and avoiding probate.
Moving to Texas to avoid California’s capital gains tax? Learn how the QSBS exemption can impact your tax liability and the steps to establish...
Meet virtually with an attorney you will like, and finally get your California estate plan done.
Should you risk your estate and your family with an estate plan generated by a tech bro app?
Dogs in heaven? What the experts say, and how to include them in your California estate plan.
The impact of clutter on your life and estate planning, and explore reasons to declutter for peace, freedom, and simpler trust administration.
Revenue Ruling 2023-2 changed step-up basis rules for irrevocable grantor trusts. How to mitigate the tax implications.
Learn how asset protection trusts in living trusts can safeguard your children's inheritance from divorce and lawsuits.
Don't jam it up. Effective strategies for naming beneficiaries of your retirement plans to ensure a smooth transition for your loved ones.
Will your parent's estate plan work?
Four years later and California's Prop 19 is still with us.
Why a surviving spouse in California should consider filing Form 706 for portability to maximize estate tax benefits and future-proof their legacy.
Learn how California's AB 2016 simplifies probate for small estates but why a living trust still offers the best protection for your assets and heirs.
How potential changes to federal estate tax laws under the Trump administration could impact California families and their estate planning strategies.
Trump’s proposed tax plan aims to extend current estate and gift tax exemptions.
Five questions for financial advisors that can make or break your chances of maintaining the accounts with the next generation.
2025 update on Trump's estate and gift tax, California homeowner's insurance, updating your beneficiary designations, the importance of updating your...
The basics of California estate planning, including living trusts, probate avoidance, trust administration and how to finally get your estate plan...
God Bless Us Every One
Marley's estate plan named Scrooge his successor trustee, executor and beneficiary.
If you value your family and wishes, you need to follow the rules to amend your living trust.
Learn how to prevent your children from becoming trust fund babies by modeling wise money management and gifting during your lifetime.
Estate planning is crucial for your parents and you, and time may be running out.
The election's impact on the estate tax, how to title your brokerage accounts, California asset protection and the Dodgers and Giants.
This article explains what the estate tax could be after the 2024 election and what it has been in past years.
Whether a California surviving spouse must pay her deceased spouse's debts depends on California community property laws and debt classification.
The California Supreme Court's ruling in Haggerty v. Thornton simplifies the process of amending living trusts in California.
Learn about Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs) for estate planning in California, their benefits, and considerations to determine if they fit...
Big banks want your money but not you, and they don't want to deal with your estate plan.
Learn why procrastinating on estate planning in California can lead to a legal and financial mess.
Clark's comments on estate planning, including how to anticipate and plan around potential estate planning problems.
Unmarried couples need separate living trusts, not joint living trusts. Learn about the planning differences between unmarried and married couples.
Understanding the capital gains tax when selling your California home, including federal and state tax, step-up basis, and California withholding tax.
Learn about the California Joint Tenancy Proportional Interest Transfer Rule, Prop 19, and the implications of owning your home with your parent.
Estate planning insights from Clark Allison on trust fund babies, decision making, property tax reassessment, ADU planning, dogs, and Charles Dickens.
Learn about trustee obligations to provide financials and documents to living trust beneficiaries in a California trust administration.
Avoid the hassle of traditional estate planning and work with an attorney you will like virtually from the comfort of your home.
Learn valuable estate planning life hacks from a seasoned estate planning attorney to protect your assets, family, and legacy.
Protect your home and children. Learn how to create a Residence Trust in your living trust for your new spouse or significant other's occupancy.
California's joint ownership rules are complicated and could trigger an increased property tax.
Make an impact with your living trust beneficiaries.
How to talk to your parents about their estate planning.
If you are giving to charity, give your RMD, and reduce your taxable income.
Protect yourself when helping your parent.
When you should file a gift tax return (IRS Form 709).
What you need to do when your loved one dies with a California living trust?
We are committed to California, and estate planning and trust administration are all we do.
You need a California estate plan. Our attorneys will make it pleasant and easy.
Your parents need an updated living trust estate plan to avoid conservatorship and probate.
Marley's estate plan named Scrooge his successor trustee, executor and beneficiary.
Two steps to find a career you will love. Find a career aligned with the life you want and find ways to make the work fit the life you want.
The Estate and Gift Tax Exemption and Annual Gift Exclusion 1997-2024.
If you have the means, would you get more joy out of giving while you are alive?
Keep It Simple. Name Individuals as Your IRA Beneficiaries.
Giving helps others, reduces your taxes, and as a bonus, lifts your soul.
Predatory marriages are on the rise.
Be careful. Transfer on death deeds are not the quick fix some think they are.
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.
It may be more difficult and riskier than simply using a living trust.
Avoid these estate planning mistakes to protect your family and assets.
When your parent is no longer mentally competent, it's too late for their estate planning.
Using a Qualified Charitable Deduction will reduce your taxes and help your favorite charity.
To keep the good vibes with your family legacy, don't drop a bomb on your estate plan.
Discover why using an estate planning attorney is crucial for securing your financial and family legacy.
Definition of estate planning terms: Trustee, Executor, Agent, Grantor and Beneficiary
Estate planning does not have to be complicated. We make it simple.
You should include asset protection trusts in your living trust to protect your children's inheritance.
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 Happens If I Am a California Resident and I Don't Have a Will or Living Trust?
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 requires an understanding of estate, gift, capital gains, and property taxes.
Your older parent may need help with her finances and living trust estate plan.
You love your family and you've worked so hard. Don't let it end badly.
Elder abuse by marriage? The strange case of California State Senator Ralph Dills
Why banks struggle to accept durable powers of attorney
Naming primary and contingent beneficiaries of your IRA is an essential part of your estate plan
Financial Advisors are the secret sauce that makes your estate plan work
Maximize your IRA for your children with a Charitable Remainder Trust
You may need to amend your living trust if it has a bypass trust provision
All to the surviving spouse, or to bypass trust or QTIP trust?
2023 gift and estate tax exemption and annual gift exclusion. How much can you gift without a gift tax?
How to transfer your assets to your California Living Trust to avoid probate
Choosing the right successor trustee for your living trust
An overview on estate planning. Why to do it. How to do it. When to do it.
A brief overview of how to fund your living trust
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...
Checklist of what a trustee should do during trust administration
If you have a living trust, your trustee must begin the trust administration when you pass away.
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
California Probate is time consuming and expensive. A Revocable living trust will help your family avoid probate.
A Revocable Living Trust will help you avoid probate, but adding asset protection trust provisions will significantly protect your children's...
California probate is complicated, time-consuming and very expensive. A typical California probate could take 18 months and cost more than $50,000 in...
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
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.
An estate planning attorney will create a plan that eliminates stress and serves your needs. This guide will help you choose an estate planning...
Knowing what to watch out for will help you avoid the most common estate planning mistakes. Understanding common Estate Planning mistakes can help...
An estate planning attorney is a licensed legal professional that thoroughly understands the state and federal laws that govern the assessment,...
If you have a small estate a will may be enough. If you have a living trust, you will need a pour-over will.
Blended family estate planning presents challenges, and one size fits all estate plans may not work.
If you have already created a Durable Power of Attorney, you should not need a conservatorship.
What happens if you don’t prepare an estate plan? The state of California has a default plan for you, it's called intestacy.
Lifetime Protection Trusts are designed to protect your loved ones and their inheritance from potential divorce claims and lawsuits.
When you pass away, your estate goes through the probate process, and the probate court ensures that your executor distributes your assets per your...
If you have a high net worth estate, your estate plan may need more than a revocable living trust.
Almost everyone needs an estate plan. Many people think the term “estate plan” is something only high net worth individuals need. Not true.
The Secure Act has significantly changed the rules for IRA beneficiaries. Before the Secure Act, beneficiaries could use the Life Expectancy Rule -...
What to do when your parent dies with a living trust
How to choose the right guardian and trustee in your living trust when you don't have a perfect guardian or trustee.
California Prop 19 eliminates Parent Child Reassessment Exclusion but Expands Base Year Value Transfer
Young California adults need a durable power of attorney, health care directive and HIPAA.
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 and annual gift exclusion. How much can you gift without a gift tax?
If you own a home in California, you'll need a living trust to avoid probate.
Keep title of your home in your revocable living trust after you refinance