by Christine | May 13, 2013 | Estate Law, Estate Planning, Marriage, Probate |
If a conflict of interest arises in fact between the spouses, their estate planning attorney should withdraw and advise the spouses to retain separate counsel. Having represented both of the spouses, the attorney may not thereafter represent one of them against...
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 | Nov 3, 2011 | Elder Law, Estate Planning, Medi-Cal Long Term Care, Probate, Trust Administration |
Social Security recipients will get a cost-of-living adjustment of 3.6 percent in 2012, a welcome boost after two years of no increase. Although it’s been two years since Social Security beneficiaries saw some additional respite from rising inflation, finally we’ll...
by Christine | Sep 26, 2011 | Probate |
Being asked by friends or family to be executor of an estate is a big honor, but the warm feelings can vanish once the job starts. Choosing an executor can be a difficult task, and in no small part this is because it means finding someone you trust to do as you would...
by Christine | Sep 22, 2011 | Probate, Tax Planning |
If you’re an executor for someone who died in 2010, mark your calendar for January 17, 2012. That’s the new date by which you must now file a key federal tax form. If your last name is “Steinbrenner,” or you also are the heir to the estate of a decedent who passed in...
by Christine | Aug 18, 2011 | Probate, Trust Administration |
On August 5, 2011, the IRS published long-awaited guidance for executors of estates of people who died in 2010. Notice 2011-66 explains how these executors can opt out of the estate tax, and Revenue Procedure 2011-41 explains the special tax rules that apply to assets...
