The first experience some have with estate planning issues occurs immediately after a loved one has passed away. This is unfortunate. Without any prior planning, a death comes with a range of complicated paperwork tasks–grieving relatives are often forced to handle complex affairs in the midst of great emotional turmoil.…
Estate planning is, in part, about making inheritance designations for assets left over after a passing. Of course, hand-in-hand with assets are debts. Understanding those potential debts at death, and making plans for the payment of all liabilities, is also factored into comprehensive estate plans dealing with long-term financial preparations.…
Most stories about celebrity estate planning have one thing in common: they involve planning errors and drawn-out legal battles. But it is important not to overlook the other examples–where planning documents are straight-forward and opportunity for challenges are few and far between. At the end of the day, when knowledgeable…
Planning one’s long-term affairs usually spurs thoughts about designating who will get what in an inheritance and explaining end of life wishes. But, there is much more to consider. For example, planning for residents with young children must include difficult decisions about the long-term care of their kids in the…
When most local residents think of “estate planning” one document comes to mind–a will. By far the most common planning tool, a will lays out one’s wishes in the event of their passing. While millions still have not even taken this most basic step, more and more local residents have…
For many local residents, visiting a San Diego estate planning attorney seems unnecessary. After all, many seniors have loving, supportive families and a desire to split everything evenly. Aren’t there easier ways to take care of inheritance and long-term care issues than visiting a lawyer? One of the most common…
Dealing with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) often confuses people and leads to complications. That holds true even in situations where the IRS has tried to simplify a process. Take, for example, the estate tax. As a new Wall Street Journal story this week mentions, new rules seeking to make…
Estate planning attorneys work with residents to plan for their financial future and plan inheritance issues for families. It is crucial not to forget that this planning does not occur with just one meeting. That’s because the plan must be edited from time to time to accommodate changes in the…
A trust is one of the most common tools that residents can use to craft unique estate plans so that their assets are passed on as efficiently as possible. However, many worry about using these tools for fear of their permanency, or wondering whether they can change their mind down…
Much political debate raged in recent months (and years) about the federal gift and estate tax. While most of you have likely heard of the controversy, many of you are not exactly sure how these taxes could affect you and whether or not you need to do anything now to…