by Christine | Aug 4, 2014 | Estate Plan, Probate, Wills |
If Lou Reed had used a revocable living trust, and transferred his assets into the trust during his life, then all of this information would have been kept private. No one would know how much he had, whom he left it to, or how much his executors were charging....
by Christine | Aug 1, 2014 | Estate Planning, Family Limited Partnership |
Family limited partnerships seem like an almost foolproof idea: A client can shield just about any amount of money from creditors while maintaining full control of the assets, and getting tax advantages to boot. But they’re not for everyone, and there can be serious...
by Christine | Jul 31, 2014 | Estate Plan, Estate Planning |
After graduating from college, and even law school, the thought of drafting your estate plan probably did not make the top twenty on your "to-do" list, and why should it? The only thing most young professionals have when they first start out is debt....
by Christine | Jul 30, 2014 | Estate Plan, Estate Planning, Will Contest, Wills |
Three years and two trials later, the will remains the subject of a fierce probate fight in Sacramento Superior Court. Lawyers for the stepson and O’Brien’s brother have challenged the will as a fraud. They contend O’Brien didn’t have the mental capacity...
by Christine | Jul 29, 2014 | Beneficiary, Trustee, Trusts |
Today’s low interest rates create special problems for those focused on income, including retirees and the income beneficiaries of trusts. Prolonged periods of low interest rates can result in low trust income, creating conflict among beneficiaries. Many trusts are...
by Christine | Jul 28, 2014 | Estate Plan, Estate Planning |
"Many have not taken adequate steps to review and update these plans since the moment they were signed. Meanwhile, major life events such as marriage, the birth of a child or the launch of a business may have occurred." Estate plans are not a one-shot deal....
by Christine | Jul 25, 2014 | Digital Assets, Digital Estate Planning, Estate Planning |
Planning for control of your personal information after you die used to be as simple as telling someone about the desk drawer or the fireproof box or the safe deposit box at the local bank. But in the era of smartphones and cloud computing services, that same stuff...
by Christine | Jul 24, 2014 | Estate Planning, Trusts |
Who knew a “Walk on the Wild Side” could pay off so handsomely? Late rock legend Lou Reed left behind a $30 million fortune, The Post has learned. $20 million-plus in “money and other property” doesn’t include the approximately $10 million in gifts Reed left to...
by Christine | Jul 23, 2014 | Autism, Caregivers & Caregiving, Long Term Care, Special Needs, Special Needs Children, Special Needs Planning, Special Needs Trusts |
New studies are providing more current cost estimates. “What we found was shocking,” Mandell said. “This is a huge hit on families.” The costs to care for a child with special needs is on the rise, as reported in a new study in the medical journal JAMA Pediatric. The...
by Christine | Jul 21, 2014 | Estate Planning, Estate Tax, LIfe Insurance |
“While there are a number of ways to address estate tax liabilities and retirement savings distinctly, developments in the life insurance arena are providing new and potentially better options. These strategies are highly versatile to meet the evolving needs of the...
