Should you put your home in a trust? Many families use a trust for their residence, but the decision turns on control, incapacity planning, and long‑term administration. The deeper issue is understanding what actually changes once the deed is retitled. Why the Question Comes Up So Often in California Bay Area residents face a combination of high property values, blended family structures, and a probate system in Santa Clara County that can be time-consuming, costly, and public. A home is … [Read more...] about Should You Put Your Home in a Trust?
Proposition 19: The California Property Tax Law That Changed Everything
California’s Proposition 19 changed the way families think about inherited property, property tax reassessment, and long-term estate planning. For decades, many California parents could pass real estate to their children while preserving a low property tax basis under Proposition 13. That changed significantly when Proposition 19 took effect. This California property tax law now places strict limits on when children can keep a parent’s lower assessed value after inheriting property. The rules … [Read more...] about Proposition 19: The California Property Tax Law That Changed Everything
Homeowner Insurance, Title Insurance, and Your Living Trust (VIDEO)
In this Vlog, Litherland, Kennedy & Associates Attorney Justin M. Kennedy discusses the importance of adding your Living Trust as an additionally insured on your Homeowner, Fire, Earthquake, Flood and Title Insurance policies. … [Read more...] about Homeowner Insurance, Title Insurance, and Your Living Trust (VIDEO)
Proposition 19 and Repeal the Death Tax Act (VIDEO)
In this vlog, Litherland, Kennedy & Associates Attorney Maggie LaBranch-Gonzales discusses the Repeal the Death Tax Act, a project of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association to repeal the negative effects of Proposition 19. Please note that the direct link to the petition is: https://reinstate58.hjta.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Official-Repeal-the-Death-Tax-Petition-plus-Instructions-and-Top-Funders-Sheet-October2023.pdf. YOU MUST PRINT AND SIGN THE PETITION WITH PAPER AND INK AND MAIL … [Read more...] about Proposition 19 and Repeal the Death Tax Act (VIDEO)
How Do I Title Thee…Part II
Blog Author: Tereina Stidd, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Associate Director of Education, American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc. Assets owned by an individual provide the landscape for an Estate Plan. A qualified estate planning attorney might recommend certain techniques because of the type of assets a client owns. In addition, the attorney may recommend the use of various entities, like a trust, to hold title to those assets. This is the second part of a two-part series exploring the … [Read more...] about How Do I Title Thee…Part II
How Do I Title Thee…Part 1
Blog Author: Tereina Stidd, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Associate Director of Education, American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc. It’s impossible to fully understand Estate Planning without considering the goals of the clients, along with their underlying assets. After all, many of the more advanced Estate Planning techniques depend upon obtaining discounts for assets and considering which technique to recommend based on a client’s assets. Some clients lack specific knowledge regarding not … [Read more...] about How Do I Title Thee…Part 1
Community Shred Day 2022 (VIDEO)
Thank you to everyone who participated in our 2022 Community Shred Day on May 7th. Together we raised $1,101 for the Alzheimer's Association. … [Read more...] about Community Shred Day 2022 (VIDEO)
California Probate Thresholds (VIDEO)
In this Vlog, Attorney Justin M. Kennedy discusses the 2022 updated California Probate Thresholds. … [Read more...] about California Probate Thresholds (VIDEO)
Repeal the Death Tax Act Initiative (VIDEO)
In this Vlog, Attorney Justin M. Kennedy discusses the Repeal the Death Tax Act Initiative. This video was published on 4/12/22. Please note that this initiative did not receive enough signatures to make the November 2022 ballot You can view the fact sheet on the Repeal the Death Act Initiative here. … [Read more...] about Repeal the Death Tax Act Initiative (VIDEO)
California’s Proposition 19 Ballot Initiative (VIDEO)
In this Vlog, Attorney Justin M. Kennedy discusses Proposition 19 which is on the November 3, 2020 ballot. Please note that our office is non-political and we will not express an opinion as to whether you should vote for or against the proposition. This vlog is to provide information about Proposition 19 and how if it is approved by the California voters, it would impact our clients and their estate plans. Proposition 19 is the Property Tax Transfers, Exemptions, and Revenue for Wildfire … [Read more...] about California’s Proposition 19 Ballot Initiative (VIDEO)
