Columnist Kelly Phillips Erb recently noted in Forbes that the IRS is aggressively pursuing the perpetrators of tax fraud and other related crimes, and that their “tally” for 2013 reached a new, higher total of those apprehended and prosecuted.

Financial crime is still crime.  You may believe that an estate planning attorney doesn’t see much actual crime in her daily business with her clients.  But the fact is, when an estate plan is not properly set up, things like theft and misappropriation of assets, like money, real estate and works of art can occur.  All too often, the people who are the victims have no legal recourse.  The law only works if it was followed in establishing the proper protections.

There is also a fact of tax planning associated with what I do.  There exist different types of trusts that can defer or eliminate some tax burdens, or reduce the tax responsibilities of a chosen beneficiary.  There is also the matter of charitable donations and nonprofit organizations, when they are named in an estate plan, with tax issues that relate specifically to those instances.

My real-life professional practice centers on helping to create legally valid testamentary instruments:  wills, trusts, powers of attorney, guardianship designations, advance health care directives, and other estate planning related issues.  Asset and estate protection is the reason some of  my clients seek counsel.  So if you have questions, or you’d like to begin a dialogue about how estate planning law could apply to you, please contact us at 818.956.9200.

Glendale Location

616 E. Glenoaks Boulevard, Suite 203

Glendale, CA 91207

Sherman Oaks Location

15303 Ventura Boulevard, Suite 900

Sherman Oaks, CA 91403