by Christine | Apr 11, 2012 | Estate Planning, Trust Amendment, Trusts |
I just received an update from the State Bar of California the Trusts and Estates Section regarding a recent case King v. Lynch – filed April 10, 2012, Fifth District (Cite as F062232). The court held that "(t)rust amendments were properly...
by Christine | Apr 11, 2012 | Estate Planning, Inheritance, Probate, Wills |
Brooke Astor’s only son saw his inheritance slashed in half and had his control of the estate’s powerful charitable contributions stripped away as part of a settlement that ended a bitter, five-year dispute over the family’s millions. One of the more public and famous...
by Christine | Apr 10, 2012 | Elder Law, Hospice, Medical Directives, Palliative Care |
It takes strong doctors to stand up to [the kind of verbal abuse that palliative care doctors have to put up with], to explain that courts and ethics committees have approved care that’s intended to reduce suffering, to point out that the patient’s own wishes are...
by Christine | Apr 6, 2012 | Small Business, Succession Planning |
“I’ve heard recently about the federal gift and estate tax window of opportunity for asset transfer, and was wondering if that impacts succession planning. Will there be greater tax benefits for me to leave the business in 2012, rather than 2013?” Success in business...
by Christine | Apr 5, 2012 | Art, Estate Planning, Trusts |
So, how should families fortunate enough to have valuable collections decide what to do with their art or other objects? Here are some options. As the saying goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” So it is with art. For some people, the most valuable art...
by Christine | Apr 4, 2012 | Estate Planning, Trusts |
[This] unusual clash highlights the risks for customers when financial companies get in trouble or change hands. That is so even in the lush world of trust banks, well known for their stability. Trusts are amazing tools, but they also can be finicky things....
by Christine | Apr 3, 2012 | Estate Planning, Inheritance |
The death of a parent often shifts the family dynamic, making issues arise that appear to be based on current events but in fact are perceived slights that occurred years ago and are now playing out as the parents’ estate is doled out. Families are complex. While...
by Christine | Apr 2, 2012 | Elder Care, Elder Law |
People without much family simply plan the best they can, setting up advance directives and crossing their fingers, hoping they can afford paid care when they need it. Ms. Cotter has taken her preparations a step further, however. When she consulted [with her elder...
by Christine | Mar 30, 2012 | Charitable Giving, IRS, Tax Exempt |
The IRS announced that taxpayers can find information about tax-exempt organizations in a new online search tool called Exempt Organizations Select Check If charitable giving is important to you, you may want to do some investigating to ensure that the charities you...
by Christine | Mar 29, 2012 | Estate Planning, Pet Trust, Trusts |
A pet trust, which ensures care for the horse if the owner gets sick or dies, is often the best way to ensure the horse’s care. Trusts can be remarkably powerful tools to provide for all members of the family, especially the ones most in need of care. This includes...
