We, at Law Office of Scott C. Soady, A Professional Corporation extend to all of you, our clients, friends, and visitors to our web site, our best wishes for a wonderful and joyous holiday season and a happy and prosperous New Year. Thank you to all our past and present…
Whether yours is a small business or a larger closely held corporation, have you thought about what will happen to it when you have passed away? Many people work years to build up a successful business or practice. Sometimes the family business is the most valuable asset in an estate.…
Many people in San Diego make revocable living trusts the primary feature of their estate plan. You may wonder where the idea of a trust came from. Trusts haven’t just been popular in the last century. Trusts are quite old. Plato back in 400 B.C. used a trust to finance…
Several years ago researchers felt that by mid century there would be a big inheritance boom, somewhere between 41 trillion and 136 trillion dollars handed down from parents to children. Now things are different and not solely because of the economy. Here are some reasons why you may receive a…
The San Diego County Courts hear many cases where a conservatorship is sought of an individual’s estate or person. When an individual cannot take care of his or her financial or personal affairs, it may be necessary to have the probate court appoint a conservator of the estate or of…
This summer Governor Schwarzenegger signed a bill which will protect pet trusts. The bill (SB 685) makes pet trusts enforceable. The bill was supported by the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) which estimates that over half of American families have at least one pet. The bill…
A big mistake some people make is to name their minor children the beneficiary of a life insurance policy or other account with a beneficiary designation. If you die and your children are not 18, the minor won’t have the authority to take control of the proceeds. The probate court…
If you have substantial assets, you may want to consider making a gift before the end of the year. The annual gift exclusion does not carry over into the next year, so you will lose your annual exclusion if you don’t use it before the end of 2008. In 2008…
The San Diego Probate Court has many cases involving will and trust litigation. Wills and trusts can become the subject of litigation even when prepared by an experienced estate planning attorney. Issues which can become the subject of a will contest or trust litigation can be issues relating to the…
The holiday season in San Diego has many people going to the local malls and retail stores. Identity theft is on the rise and occurs more frequently over the holidays. Identity theft occurs when someone uses your name, social security number or other personal information to commit fraud. It is…