by Justin M. Kennedy, Attorney at LawLitherland Law OfficesRecently I met with a client, Tammy, who wanted to immediately gift her home to her son, Eugene. Even though Tammy already had a comprehensive estate plan with our office that included a Living Trust, Tammy had talked with her friends who suggested gifting the home now was in her best interests. When I asked more questions, Tammy shared that one of her friends, Mike, had died without a Living Trust and Mike’s children had to take the … [Read more...]
Dead Hand Control: How Much is Too Much?
Blog Author: Stephen C. Hartnett, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Director of Education,American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.Often, people want to continue to control their beneficiaries after death, just as they’ve done during lifetime. They want to etch in stone the exact circumstances under which distributions should be made to the beneficiaries. Sometimes they think the beneficiary will have to go to the tombstone like a confessional or ATM.The problem is the person doesn’t know … [Read more...]
6 Important Estate Planning Considerations – Part 6: Taxes
Blog Author: Stephen C. Hartnett, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Director of Education,American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.This is part of a series of 6 blogs on important estate planning considerations. I’ll intersperse these blogs with other timely blogs.The first article in the series showed how an estate plan prepares one for incapacity during life and not just for the distribution of assets at death. The second article in the series focused on how an estate plan should take into … [Read more...]
6 Important Estate Planning Considerations – Part 4: Beneficiary Designations
Blog Author: Stephen C. Hartnett, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Director of Education,American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.This is part of a series of 6 blogs on important estate planning considerations. I’ll intersperse these blogs with other timely blogs.The first article in the series showed how an estate plan prepares one for incapacity during life and not just for the distribution of assets at death. The second article in the series focused on how an estate plan should take into … [Read more...]
6 Important Estate Planning Considerations – Part 3: Your Kids
Blog Author: Stephen C. Hartnett, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Director of Education,American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.This is part of a series of 6 blogs on important estate planning considerations. I’ll intersperse these blogs with other timely blogs.The first article in the series showed how an estate plan prepares one for incapacity during life and not just for the distribution of assets at death. The second article in the series focused on how an estate plan should take into … [Read more...]
Why Would I Want a Revocable Living Trust?
If you would like to learn more about revocable living trusts, attend one of our free living trust seminars: https://www.attorneyoffice.com/seminars/ … [Read more...]
Estate Planning: Simple is not Always Better
Blog Author: Stephen C. Hartnett, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Director of Education,American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.Estate planning contemplates two different general time periods: During life and after your death. Estate planning needs also vary based on the goals you are trying to achieve. For example, after death, do you simply wish to transmit your assets, or do you wish to provide your loved ones with asset protection, tax protection, divorce protection, or other … [Read more...]
Benefits of a Revocable Living Trust
Living Trusts are an excellent vehicle of asset transfer. They assist you in avoiding probate and legal quagmires, and protect your privacy. It’s important to receive solid estate planning guidance before making final decisions regarding what estate planning documents are appropriate for you, and to carefully weigh the benefits and potential drawbacks. To assist you in learning more about revocable living trusts, we invite you to attend one of our free living trust seminars. Click here to view … [Read more...]
Estate Planning – You Have Choices
You have choices when planning your estate. You are not required to utilize a last will to direct the distribution of your assets after your death. Instruments such as revocable living trusts are viable options and they are not exclusively for the wealthy.Your estate must be probated when you use a last will as your primary asset transfer vehicle. Probate comes with considerable costs. Depending on the overall value of your estate and its relative complexity, the costs associated with … [Read more...]
Free Living Trust Seminars January 18, 20, 24 and 27
Helping to keep our community informed is important to us. We regularly get out into the community to provide helpful information to people here in the greater Bay Area. To this end, we present an ongoing series of informational workshops covering various elder care and estate planning topics.Our workshops and seminars are free of charge and open to the public. During the next two weeks, we will be offering seminars that focus on living trusts.Why Consider a Living Trust?Some people … [Read more...]
