In far too many cases, loved ones are left behind to deal with difficult circumstances because of estate planning mistakes that were made by family members. With this in mind, we will look at some common estate planning mistakes in this post so you can steer clear of these scenarios.DIY Estate PlanningThere are websites on the Internet that sell boilerplate, fill in the blanks legal documents. The marketing approach revolves around the idea that anyone can play the role of an attorney and … [Read more...] about Avoid These Common Estate Planning Mistakes
Attorneys Justin M. Kennedy and Maggie A. LaBranch-Gonzales Selected as 2020 California Rising Stars
Attorneys Justin M. Kennedy and Maggie A. LaBranch-Gonzales have been selected to the 2020 California Rising Stars list. This is an exclusive list, recognizing no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state. This is the 2nd year that Justin and Maggie have received this honor.Super Lawyers, part of Thomson Reuters, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual … [Read more...] about Attorneys Justin M. Kennedy and Maggie A. LaBranch-Gonzales Selected as 2020 California Rising Stars
Preparing for Coronavirus
Blog Author: Stephen C. Hartnett, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Director of Education,American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.There’s a new virus that’s emerging, novel “coronavirus,” also called “COVID-19.” It first appeared in Wuhan, China in late 2019 and reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) on December 31, 2019. Here’s a link to the WHO’s site for the latest global information. At this point, the virus has infected near 100,000 people in 81 countries.There are hundreds of … [Read more...] about Preparing for Coronavirus
Estate Planning: Make Today the Day
Studies are conducted periodically to gain an understanding of the estate planning preparedness of adults in the United States. Unfortunately, the results are never encouraging.Most people that are over 65 have a will or some other estate planning document, but a significant percentage of people in this age group do not. The vast majority of Americans that are under the age of 40 are completely unprepared.If you are a young adult and you are single, you should have a will or a trust, but … [Read more...] about Estate Planning: Make Today the Day
COVID-19 aka the Coronavirus: A Reminder to be Prepared
by Attorney Maggie A. LaBranch-GonzalesLitherland, Kennedy & Associates, APC, Attorneys at Law If you’ve heard me speak in our seminars or workshops, or you’ve had the pleasure of meeting with me at the office, I can imagine you hearing my voice right now (kindly) reminding you that we all die. (Way to be blunt, right, Maggie?) But, seriously, for me, the most important part of Estate Planning is not necessarily what happens when you’ve passed away, but whether you are adequately … [Read more...] about COVID-19 aka the Coronavirus: A Reminder to be Prepared
4 Roles for a Will (Video)
We see Wills in movies and TV shows all the time – people are always talking about creating or updating their Wills, but what does a Will do? In this video, Attorney Justin M. Kennedy discusses the 4 roles of a Will.Litherland, Kennedy & Associates, APC, Attorneys at Law are members of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys. If you would like to learn more about the importance of estate planning, we invite you to attend one of our free estate planning seminars. … [Read more...] about 4 Roles for a Will (Video)
Income Tax Basis
Blog Author: Stephen C. Hartnett, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Director of Education,American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.When we think of income taxes, we think of how much we earn. But, another aspect of income tax is the gain or loss on assets. Income tax basis is central to how assets are taxed in the United States. This is the first of a series on income tax basis. This blog will examine income tax basis, how you get it, and how it gets adjusted. The next article will look at how … [Read more...] about Income Tax Basis
Litherland, Kennedy & Associates – Why We Walk to Help End Alzheimer’s
On Saturday, October 12th, our law firm team will be walking in the 2019 Walk to End Alzheimer's. Following is the story of why our geriatric care manager, Dedra Jize, is walking.I have been working with families who have been afflicted with Alzheimer’s for almost 10 years. I have seen the emotional stress and the financial strain it puts on families, especially for spouses. When families get the support they need, the journey becomes more reasonable, especially for those who desire … [Read more...] about Litherland, Kennedy & Associates – Why We Walk to Help End Alzheimer’s
American Academy Awards Fellow Designation to Justin M. Kennedy – Kennedy Recognized for Outstanding Achievement in Experience and Service
SAN DIEGO, CA – [August 16, 2019] – The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys [AAEPA] announced that Estate Planning Attorney Justin M. Kennedy of Litherland, Kennedy & Associates, APC, Attorneys at Law, has been awarded the Academy Fellow designation. The Fellow program recognizes Academy Members who demonstrate advanced expertise and significant practical experience in the total estate planning, trust, tax planning, probate and estate administration fields.“Our Members already … [Read more...] about American Academy Awards Fellow Designation to Justin M. Kennedy – Kennedy Recognized for Outstanding Achievement in Experience and Service
Making Trusts More Flexible
Blog Author: Stephen C. Hartnett, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Director of Education,American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.In the past, trusts often were drafted with little flexibility. Now, more and more, trusts tend to be drafted with more flexibility and there are even ways to change “irrevocable” trusts. This is the first of a three-part series. This first part examines ways of building flexibility into a trust. The second part examines using Trust Protectors to add flexibility to a … [Read more...] about Making Trusts More Flexible
