One of the things that makes managing legal issues so challenging is that the laws are always changing. This blog is designed to help you stay current on many of the latest changes.
Most people know that they should execute some kind of estate plan eventually, but don’t think that they actually need one right now. On our blog we spend a lot of time telling people that they do need an estate plan, and that they need one right now—or as soon as possible! But it’s not always easy for a layperson to know for sure if and when the time is right. Answering the following questions will help you determine when your family may need an estate plan, and if now is the time to take action.
read more...Do you know how much your 401(k) is costing you? Are you sure? What most people don’t know is that many employees with “free” retirement plans through an employer actually pay a number of hidden fees. According to a recent article in the Huffington Post, “71 percent of plan participants don’t think they pay any […]
read more...Many of my clients run their own businesses, either as sole proprietors or majority owners. I’m often amazed at the dedication and determination they have in making their businesses a success. Yet I’m just as often surprised by how much they neglect to consider the impact to their business if something was to happen to them. After all, a business that loses a “key man” can quickly depreciate in value, making a bad situation even worse for the person’s family.
read more...A parent or legal guardian can nominate another adult to be a temporary guardian for their child. This is typically done if the parent is going to be away from the child for a period of time (because of extended travel, for instance). The nominee can be a grandparent, a nanny, a family friend, or any other adult you trust with your children.
read more...My clients often struggle with picking the right trust trustee for their revocable living trust.This is understandable given how important it is to make the right choice for your family. As parents, you work hard to provide for the financial security of your children. You may be busy planning how you will teach them financial […]
read more...Whenever someone finds out that I’m an estate attorney, one of the first questions they ask me is “What is a trust?” usually followed by “And do I need one?” Answers to these seemingly simple questions are actually a bit involved. So, I decided to write a series of articles explaining trusts.
read more...When you have a newborn, life is often measured in three hour increments of when a baby sleeps and eats. As a new parent, you are so focused on your baby’s needs that you may overlook basic financial and legal matters that must be handled. Here are 5 essential things every new parent should do after the baby arrives.
read more...My clients often have a difficult time naming guardians for their minor children. This process is so daunting that it sometimes takes them weeks to get back to me with the chosen nominees. Going through this can also bring up negative feelings about each other’s relatives, which is yet another reason why clients hesitate to discuss it.
read more...Purchasing a house can be a surprisingly emotional experience, especially for first time buyers. For many people a house is the largest financial investment they’ll ever make. Yet after taking such a big leap, many homeowners neglect to take the next necessary step to protect their home.
read more...A revocable trust can protect families in multiple ways, one of the which is safeguarding assets of minor children. California law provides that children are able to inherit when they become 18 years old. This means that if you pass away, your children will be entitled to their entire inheritance at 18 years old, even though they may not be mature or financially savvy to handle such a big responsibility.
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