The most significant action of Congress in 2019 relating to retirement and estate planning was the late December passage of the “Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019”, commonly known as the “Secure Act”. It was signed into law shortly thereafter and is effective January 1, 2020, for most purposes. In this and future newsletters, we will look into the provisions of the Secure Act and also some strategies to maximize benefits and minimize problems created by this … [Read more...]
Ins and Outs of Inheriting an IRA
What are the tax implications of an inheriting an IRA? The answer depends on several factors: Is it a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA? The funds in a traditional IRA have never been taxed and will be taxed as they are withdrawn. Roth IRAs contain post-tax dollars and are not again taxed upon their withdrawal. Is the beneficiary of the IRA a spouse, a non-spouse person, or a charity? When the beneficiary of an IRA is the spouse of the IRA owner, the spouse will have a number of … [Read more...]
Where Do It Yourself = Do It Wrong
An estate plan is an important part of one’s plan for the future. Many realize that they need the assistance of an experienced and qualified attorney to assist them in their efforts. Unfortunately, some folks will cut corners in their estate planning efforts in an effort to save a few bucks or because they think they are as smart as or smarter than their estate planning lawyer when it comes to drafting documents or both. Even with persons who were prudent enough to have their original plans … [Read more...]
Do I Need an Estate Plan? I’m Not That Old
We are often asked by prospective clients: “Do I need an estate plan?” This is particularly the case for folks under 40 or 50, who just can’t imagine themselves dead or incapacitated. We are also often asked about planning by our clients who have adult children with assets and children of their own. As we all know, we can't and don’t know the future. Should a premature death or disability occur due to an unexpected injury or illness, having an appropriate plan in place will reduce needless … [Read more...]
An Update On ABLE Accounts
We have previously wrote about the long-awaited arrival in California of the so-called ABLE accounts. Formally, known as an Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account, they are a low-cost, easy-to-access plan established by federal law that began rolling out in 2016 and is now available in California. Modeled after the so-called “529 accounts”, an educational savings program offered by individual states, ABLE accounts let children or adults with disabilities incurred before age 26 … [Read more...]
What Can an Estate Plan Do for You?
Have you put off creating an estate plan? If so, have you listened to countless family members, and maybe even well-meaning friends, tell you how important it is to have an estate plan in place? While their prodding is undoubtedly well-intentioned, their time and energy might be better spent explaining to you exactly what an estate plan can do for you. Understanding the benefits of having an estate plan in place, after all, will be far more likely to prompt you to finally get started on your … [Read more...]
Do Estate Planning Lawyers Recommend Digital Estate Planning?
Having your own a customized estate plan has become more and more common. Digital estate planning has also become more common. But, what exactly is meant by digital estate planning? Nowadays, everyone has at least one digital asset, if not many. Digital assets include any property that is either based on a computer or involves the internet is some way, like online businesses and email accounts. Planning for who should inherit those assets and who should have the necessary information to access … [Read more...]
How to Avoid Intestate Succession with an Estate Plan
One of the purposes of estate planning is to prepare for your death and avoid intestate succession. The laws of intestate succession determine who gets what if you die without a will. In general terms, if you die without a will in California, your assets will go to your closest relatives. Here is what intestate succession is and how you can avoid it. California's Laws of Intestate Succession If you die with surviving children, but no spouse, parents or siblings, your children will inherit … [Read more...]
Do It Yourself Wills and Trusts are not a Quick Fix
Here's a good rule of thumb: do-it-yourself (DIY) is for remodeling and arts and crafts. Sure, there are great DIY magazines out there and DIY products online for you to try. But when it comes to drafting your will or trust, or any other estate planning tool, DIY is not the way to go. DIY wills and trusts can ultimately cause you more problems than you could imagine. Despite the low cost and simplicity of DIY wills, trusts and other online legal forms, there is still a great risk that your … [Read more...]
4 Myths About Wills and Trusts
Estate planning means preparing for possible incapacity and inevitable death. An estate plan can include many different types of documents, including wills and trusts. The variety of tools available will allow for a customized and comprehensive estate plan. There are many benefits to estate planning and there are some myths as well. Here we will dispel 4 common myths about wills and trusts. MYTH #1: Trusts are only for the rich and elderly One common misconception is that, if you are young … [Read more...]
