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.
Many married couples wonder why they need an estate plan if they have no children and already hold all of their assets jointly. The answer is two-fold: you need to plan for what happens to your assets when both of you die, and more importantly, you need to plan for what happens on either of […]
read more...One of Kelly Phillips Erb’s recent Taxgirl columns in Forbes addressed the ongoing questions, issues and conflicts that have accompanied major changes in America’s healthcare laws. Though Ms. Erb covers topics relating to taxes, tax credits and the like, my bailiwick is estate planning law. Healthcare? What’s the connection? Well, it’s a very logical one, […]
read more...At an initial consultation, we often hear clients say that although they are not legally married, they have a “common law marriage”. This popular misconception can cause a good amount of trouble for your loved ones upon your passing or incapacity. In California, there is no such thing as “common law marriage”. This means that […]
read more...Estate planning is an evolving area of law, and a prime example of this is the various green burial options available to the eco-friendly client. Many clients wish to leave minimal impact on the environment when they die, and we’ve identified some of the unique ways you can plan for a “green burial”: Diamonds […]
read more...Regular readers of my blog probably understand that estate planning laws can differ from state to state. For example, California and several others are known as “community property” states. So in this blog we’ll explore what comprises community property versus separate property, and how both relate to estate plans. “Community property” is defined as […]
read more...It seems celebrity rumors are all over the media, all the time. For example, one recent rumor announced that acress Charlize Theron and actor Sean Penn are engaged. Then, a mere few days later, that rumor was squelched, with the couple announcing in news stories that they are ” just good friends”. With divorce a […]
read more...Sometimes, the most interesting topics for this blog arise out of ordinary conversations. Recently a friend related to me the circumstances of a troubled friend of hers. The friend was concerned that her siblings were going to “cheat” her out of any forthcoming inheritance upon the death of their mother. This woman wondered how she […]
read more...Apple is constantly releasing new updates that make our lives easier. With a recent update, and the introduction of the Health App, you can now use you iPhone as an emergency contact card–even when it’s locked. To enable this feature, follow these steps: 1. Open the “Health” App; it should already be on your […]
read more...Recently, what I considered to be a fascinating story appeared in the LA Times about some remarkable services available from a funeral home located in South Los Angeles. The Boyd Funeral Home offers many colorful, musical, and ceremonial options to accompany a funeral. And unlike what many people would regard as an ordinary, gloomy service, […]
read more...For many people, the idea of talking to an estate planning lawyer seems morbid, since the main topic of discussion most likely would be, what do you want to happen after your death? But that morbid feeling can, and should, be pushed aside in favor of responsibility, proactivity, and good old-fashioned common sense: because one […]
read more...