If you have been fortunate enough to be in a position during your lifetime to donate to charitable causes, then you may wish to continue doing so long after your death. Just as you make plans to provide for your family members and loved ones after your death, you can include charitable giving in your estate plan as well. A thorough consultation with your Sacramento-San Joaquin Valley estate planning attorney is, of course, necessary in order to incorporate your charity into your estate plan; … [Read more...]
Estate Problems As A Result of Over-Funding Your Retirement Plan
If you are like most Americans, you started saving for your retirement about the same time you started your career. The idea of saving for our golden years is firmly ingrained in the American psyche. While putting away money for retirement is certainly wise, putting away too much can result in over-funding of a retirement account. Unless one plans ahead, the excess funds in a retirement account could be taxed as both income and for estate tax purposes at the time of death. The end result of this … [Read more...]
Why do I Have to Give My Estate Planning Attorney so Much Information?
Effective estate planning does require full disclosure. It involves the discussion of your private finances, personal life, personal goals as well as the topics of death, dying, and disability. If you’re like most people, you find these topics difficult to discuss, especially with someone outside of your family. An experienced and qualified estate planning attorney realizes this and will gently guide you. And, you will be relieved to discover that you gradually become more comfortable with … [Read more...]
Social Media and Estate Administration
Believed to be the first of its kind in the United States, the State of Nebraska has recently proposed legislation that would grant the executor of a decedent’s estate access to social media, e-mail, micro-blogging, and other similar accounts. The legislation would not apply to accounts that have been specifically addressed in a decedent’s estate plan with instructions regarding who should control the account; however, all other accounts would fall under the control of the estate executor if the … [Read more...]
Trouble Brewing in Whitney Houston’s Estate
The recent death of Whitney Houston was immediately followed by both soaring record sales and reports of trouble brewing surrounding her estate. Houston was found dead in a Beverly Hills hotel room from unknown causes. While many mourned her death and rushed to buy her songs, Houston’s family was already having trouble with Houston’s ex-husband Bobby Brown, according to reports. Houston’s mother was reportedly not happy about inviting Brown to the funeral but did so anyway. While Brown did … [Read more...]
Whitney Houston’s Estate Value Soaring After Death
As many mourn the death of entertainer Whitney Houston, sales of items related to the artist are soaring. According to news reports, Houston, age 48, was found dead in a Beverly Hills hotel room where she was staying in anticipation of attending the Grammy Awards the following day. Best known for the moving love song I Will Always Love You, Houston was once the darling of the music industry. With a string of chart topping hits in the 90s and a successful attempt at crossing over into acting with … [Read more...]
Estate Planning Lesson from Girl with the Dragon Tattoo: Don’t Procrastinate
We don’t think anyone gets up in the morning and says, “Yippee! Today, I’ll call an estate planning lawyer to discuss creating a comprehensive estate plan.” However, we do think you should consider creating a plan that addresses all you Why? Consider this solid estate planning lesson from the estate of author, Stieg Larsson, who wrote the incredibly successful Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. No Estate Plan Larsson died, suddenly, at age 50; he had no estate plan. None. What he did have was a … [Read more...]
Talking With Your Family about Long Term Care Facilities
Talking about long term care facilities can be a difficult conversation to have with your loved ones. If your senior loved one needs extra care, he or she may feel embarrassed. It’s a good idea to discuss the options that are available with your senior loved one and other family members in order to make sure that your senior loved one feels as comfortable as possible about the decision. If you need additional help discussing care needs, consult with an experienced, qualified elder law … [Read more...]
Can an Attorney Charge to Help Fill Out A Veterans Benefit Application?
An attorney will NOT chargea fee to apply for veterans benefits. The Veterans Administration prohibits charging a fee to apply for benefits. However, this doesn't mean that you’re left on your own, surrounded by masses of unintelligible paperwork. That’s too scary for anyone, who is not specially trained! An attorney can fill out the application, as a courtesy, when he or she is designing a plan to help qualify for veterans benefits and possibly future Medi-Cal Long Term Care benefits. Are … [Read more...]
New California Probate Exemption in 2012
In California, certain small estates may not be subject to probate, instead they may be able to take advantage of less costly "small estate procedures." As of January 1, 2012, there is a new definition of "small" estate. The new limit is $150,000 in non-real estate assets and up to $50,000 in real estate. If your assets otherwise subject to probate don’t exceed these amounts, your estate may be able to avoid for expensive and time consuming formal California probate process. However, depending … [Read more...]
