Category Archives: California Law

National Adoption Month

Most adoptions involve minor children. Arrange for someone to care for the new child if something happens to you. Appoint a guardian, i.e., a caregiver, in your will. This person will act as your child’s parent if you become disabled or die.

More Estate Planning Tips: Part 2

Estate Planning Attorney at Desk

Make sure that your family members have proper medical powers of attorney and advance directives in place. These documents contain their wishes about how they would like their medical care to be handled if they are not able to make decisions for themselves.

Informal Probate

two women, one casual and one dressed up

The loss of a loved one presents unexpected challenges. You might feel overwhelmed if you lose a beloved relative or friend. And the process of handling their affairs only adds to the stress. Many families eagerly try to tie up loose ends and distribute assets. But in many cases, they end up facing either formal […]

Does a Signed Trust Eliminate the Probate Process?

Asset Protection Probate Process

Planning ahead benefits everyone involved. This applies to vacations and job interviews as much as to end-of-life concerns. Outlining your priorities and anticipating potential challenges makes sense in everything, including your estate. Clearly establishing protection over wealth and assets protects your family if you pass away or become incapacitated. However, simply meeting with an attorney […]

Family Estate-Planning Peace

Most families get together for the holidays, share laughs, and tell stories. Everyone gets along and enjoys each other’s company. Then, the matriarch or patriarch dies. Suddenly, years of pent-up resentment and hurt feelings bubble to the surface. And the once-happy family dynamic crumbles over the decedent’s estate. There goes estate-planning peace!

Stress Test Your Estate Plan

Estate Planning Living Trust

So you have done the hard work of establishing an estate plan. Good for you! However, you still have serious work to do to ensure that the strategy you have selected will maximize your peace of mind and protect your legacy. Estate plans should be like living, breathing creations that reflect the changes in your life. […]

Living Probate

Living Probate Glendora Upland

If you become incapacitated, who is going to take care of you? As difficult as it may be, face facts. If you become incapacitated, you will not be able to make medical decisions for yourself. What’s more, you won’t be able to manage day-to-day-today affairs. This would be sad no matter what. But, if you […]

Reducing Tax Burden for 2018 Part 2

Part 2 in a 2-Part Series   Last year (at the end of 2018), we wrote about how to reduce the Taxable Income of Irrevocable Trusts. Click here to reference that blog. This week, we conclude our two-part series by discussing other strategies you may wish to employ before seeing your accountant in 2019. Under federal […]

Strategies for Saving on 2018 Income Taxes

Part 1 in a 2-Part Series about Tax Savings Now is the time to begin looking at ways to minimize your 2018 income tax bill.  This blog post, which is the first of a two-part series, outlines several strategies to consider before the end of the year. Granted, this is a lot of tax talk. […]

Start Thinking about 2018 Taxes

Tax Documentation 2018

Believe it or not, the end of the year is rapidly approaching. So, now is the time to take a moment and start preparing your year-end tax planning for 2018. This is extra important this tax year because of the changes to the tax law which became effective in 2018. As a result, your taxes […]