Sometimes we get calls within a day or two of a loved one’s passing away by family members who wonder what they should do. The first thing that should be done is to handle the bereavement process. Spend time with family and friends and begin the grieving process before anything…
Some people need extra time to file a personal tax return or an estate tax return. On your personal income taxes, you can apply for an automatic extension to file but it doesn’t extend the time to pay. You will have to pay a .5% per month penalty for late…
Many people in San Diego are in the position of choosing a successor trustee for their living trust or they may be beneficiaries of a trust and wonder if the trustee is managing or distributing their inheritances properly. Generally the trustee must administer the trust according to the terms of…
Living trusts save beneficiaries thousands of dollars in probate fees, however, upon the death of the Trustor, there are still steps that need to be taken by the Successor Trustee. These steps are called trust administration and often require some assistance from an experienced attorney. If these actions are not…
Earlier this month we posted a blog about identity theft during the hollidays. Malls in North County, South Bay, Carlsbad, and Mission Valley are targets for pick pockets and thieves who look to steal purses. But did you know that even deceased persons can be victims of identity theft? The…
There are many different types of trusts which San Diego couples may create as the cornerstone of their estate plan. Prior to 2000 when the exemption for estate taxes was $650,000 many couples had A/B trusts prepared. These were also called Bypass Trusts, Marital Trusts, or Exemption Trusts. These types…
Even when a person dies with a will or a trust, there can be disputes that result in a will contest or trust litigation. An individual may feel he or she should have been a beneficiary under a will or a trust. Sometimes a will has been changed and beneficiaries…
An elderly doctor and his daughter opened a joint bank account, the money in which would go to the surviving account holder if the other one died. This is a case of the right of survivorship and should have been part of a revocable living trust and then would proceed…