California Heggstad Petitions and Kucker v. Kucker
I recently had the following calendar note in a probate case in Alameda County. We had filed a Heggstad petition, pursuant to California probate code 850, to get two properties into a trust after...
View ArticleInternational Wills
I have been practicing law since 1994. I have been extremely focused on the areas of estate and probate law during that time. Through those years I have a number of clients who have property in other...
View ArticleIRS Gift and Estate Tax Exemptions for 2015
The IRS released their gift and estate tax exemption numbers for 2015 a few months back. In case you missed it they are: GIFT TAX: It remains at $14,000 per donor per donee. So a husband and wife can...
View ArticleReverse Estate Planning to get a step up in basis
I heard a great presentation recently by a CPA. He was talking about, what he calls, “reverse estate planning.” Say what? Well, we all know that the focus in estate planning has changed from estate...
View ArticleBest nursing homes in Sacramento
I just saw this article at US News rating the best nursing homes in Sacramento. Good list to consider for your loved ones. Here’s the link. Share/BookmarkThe post Best nursing homes in Sacramento...
View ArticleCalifornia Insurance Code Section 10113.71 Form
Have you gotten forms from your life insurance companies giving you the option of providing them an alternate person to receive your lapse notices? I love this! It all stems from California Assembly...
View ArticleRobin Williams estate in the news
I was reading this article about Robin Williams’ estate. It is written by a Minnesota lawyer. I am not saying the story is “wrong” but it is a little misleading. Now that makes for better reading than...
View ArticleDying on your terms and POLST
My grandma is 98 years old…. or should I say 98 years YOUNG!? She called last week to tell me about a great article in the LA Times. It’s about dying on YOUR TERMS. In fact, the headline in the paper...
View ArticleBank of America mortgage trust certification form
For some time now I have advised clients to contact their mortgage holder to see about linking their trust to their mortgage. Without that you can leave your trustee with a problem. The house might be...
View ArticleCalifornia Heggstad Petitions and Kucker v. Kucker
I recently had the following calendar note in a probate case in Alameda County. We had filed a Heggstad petition, pursuant to California probate code 850, to get two properties into a trust after...
View ArticleInternational Wills
I have been practicing law since 1994. I have been extremely focused on the areas of estate and probate law during that time. Through those years I have a number of clients who have property in other...
View ArticleIRS Gift and Estate Tax Exemptions for 2015
The IRS released their gift and estate tax exemption numbers for 2015 a few months back. In case you missed it they are: GIFT TAX: It remains at $14,000 per donor per donee. So a husband and wife can...
View ArticleTop 10 Estate Planning Mistakes
As a California estate planning and probate attorney I see both sides. I see the planning process and I see what happens, after death, when the planning wasn’t done right. Here is a top 10 list of...
View ArticleReverse Estate Planning to get a step up in basis
I heard a great presentation recently by a CPA. He was talking about, what he calls, “reverse estate planning.” Say what? Well, we all know that the focus in estate planning has changed from estate...
View ArticleBest nursing homes in Sacramento
I just saw this article at US News rating the best nursing homes in Sacramento. Good list to consider for your loved ones. Here’s the link.
View ArticleCoach Dean Smith leaves a small legacy… what will you do?
As an estate planning attorney I help clients plan the legacy they will leave. Often it’s simple such as “I leave everything to my children….” Other times it’s a gift to an old friend, a church, or...
View ArticleNEW Heggstad Petition Case
I got notice a couple weeks ago of a new case to help get Heggstad petitions approved. That is, petitions brought under California probate code section 850. The case is: Ukkestad v. RBS Asset Finance...
View ArticleThe Pragmatic lawyer
I have always considered myself to be reasonable or a good sense of rough justice. A quick opinion of how things should end up. People have called me pragmatic many times during my 20 years as a...
View ArticleDigital Assets after death
The world of “digital assets” is growing by leaps and bounds each day. The issues they present are growing just as fast. That is, what happens to the money left in your Itunes account after death? Or...
View ArticleAnother On-line Will Form Problem
Ouch. Of course attorneys can make mistakes too but in this case it was the use of an online document service (unnamed to protect the guilty) that messed up. Decedent, we will call Betty, signed a will...
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