Blog Author: Tereina Stidd, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Associate Director of Education, American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc. Welcome to 2022! Most of us have left 2021 without hesitation – many had high hopes that 2021 would bring the end of COVID-19 and a return to normalcy and yet we face another variant as we usher in 2022. While things may not have gone the way we hoped in 2021, we can start 2022 prepared for anything by getting our estate plans in order. The tumultuous events … [Read more...] about Start 2022 the Right Way
Trust Administration Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is a Trust Administration? When a Trustor dies, the state of California requires that the Trustee of the Trust take some actions. The extent of these actions depends upon whether the Trust becomes irrevocable at the death of the Trustor or if the Trust provides specific actions for the Trustee to take upon the death. We recommend that upon a death of a Trustor, the Trustee schedule a meeting with an attorney within the first month to discuss the legal requirements upon death and what … [Read more...] about Trust Administration Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Attorneys Justin M. Kennedy and Maggie A. LaBranch-Gonzales Selected as 2021 California Rising Stars
Attorneys Justin M. Kennedy and Maggie A. LaBranch-Gonzales have been selected to the 2021 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 3rd 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 2021 California Rising Stars
LGBTQ+ Estate Planning Frequently Asked Questions (VIDEO)
In this video, Attorney Maggie A. LaBranch-Gonzales answers LGBTQ+ frequently asked estate planning questions. … [Read more...] about LGBTQ+ Estate Planning Frequently Asked Questions (VIDEO)
Act in Advance to Prevent a Conservatorship
A lot of people think of estate planning as a purely financial endeavor. It is true that you have to facilitate the transfer of your monetary assets after you pass away. This is one important piece to the puzzle, but it is not the only one. In order to be comprehensively prepared for the inevitabilities that we will all face, you should consider end-of-life matters as well. With this in mind, we will share some information about incapacity planning in this post. Alzheimer’s Disease To fully … [Read more...] about Act in Advance to Prevent a Conservatorship
How Will You Obtain the Care You Need?
Blog Author: Stephen C. Hartnett, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Director of Education, American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc. As Americans grow older, more and more of us need help with our daily activities. It could be a little help or a lot of help, depending on the situation. Of course, the level of assistance we need can change over time. According to a study by Bankers Life Center for a Secure Retirement, 68% of middle-income boomers are providing care for a parent and 17% are … [Read more...] about How Will You Obtain the Care You Need?
WHY We Walk – Walk to End Alzheimer’s
by Maggie A. LaBranch-Gonzales Litherland, Kennedy & Associates, APC, Attorneys at Law I think most of us, by now, have had some connection with a person who has been affected by Alzheimer’s. I would wager it is becoming more common as we are living longer. We’ve seen it with our clients and their families. For me, it’s my grandmother. My grandmother, Jan Ely, died on December 26, 2019 at the age of 78, after surviving through all the stages of dementia and into the final stages of … [Read more...] about WHY We Walk – Walk to End Alzheimer’s
California’s Proposition 13 (VIDEO)
In this vlog, Attorney Justin M. Kennedy discusses California's Proposition 13. 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 webinars. … [Read more...] about California’s Proposition 13 (VIDEO)
What is a Death Probate? (VIDEO)
In this video, Attorney Justin M. Kennedy discusses the death probate. In California, if a decedent passes away with more than $166,250* in assets in their name (not held in Trust), then their assets may be subject to the death probate. In California, a probate attorney is paid a statutory amount which is the same whether you hire an experienced probate attorney, or one who is inexperienced. When you are looking for a probate attorney, you should focus your search on finding an attorney … [Read more...] about What is a Death Probate? (VIDEO)
Avoid These Common Estate Planning Mistakes
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 Planning There 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
