“Probate is the court process to distribute someone's estate after their death, even if there is a will and is notoriously slow in California.” The nature of the probate process varies from state to state, and even varies from county to county. However, the nature of the process is the... Continue reading

“Sometimes beneficiaries end up not receiving their assets. Beneficiaries often lose out because the estate planning wasn’t done properly, but sometimes another family member contests the decedent’s will.” What happens when estate planning doesn’t go according to plan? A last will and testament is a legally binding contract that determines... Continue reading

“Having a child with special needs can come with all sorts of unique challenges from a financial and estate planning standpoint. Public benefits, for example, can play a huge role in anticipating how much money your child will need down the road in your later years, as well as when... Continue reading

“As you plan how you will leave your estate, it is important to your family’s future that you leave a legacy with well-executed documents. It’s also essential that you understand all of the roles of the people involved in your estate, especially the person or organization who will manage your... Continue reading

“So, you’ve decided that a family member won’t be getting an inheritance, after all. Maybe you have an ungrateful or irresponsible family member you want to cut out of the will.” If there’s someone you believe is more deserving or needs more of your help, that may mean someone else... Continue reading

“The possibility that a power of attorney might be rejected may be one reason not to simply pull a form off the internet and hope it will be accepted.” It is frustrating when a bank or other financial institution declines a Power of Attorney. It might be that the form... Continue reading

“When should you sign up for Social Security? It is a good question. Many seniors grapple with that decision, and understandably so, since the age at which you claim benefits will dictate how much money you will receive each month during retirement.” There’s an unfortunate tendency to focus on how... Continue reading

“Probate and trust administration are not the same. There are important differences and similarities between administering a decedent’s probate estate and administering a decedent’s trust estate.” Many people get these two things confused. A recent article, “Appreciating the differences between probate and trust administration,” from Lake County News clarifies the... Continue reading

“Medicare has a series of income limits that trigger increasingly higher payments for retirees. And it’s not just the rich who are affected.” A 70% increase in Medicare premiums to $559 was a complete surprise to a woman who became a single taxpayer when her husband died. She felt like... Continue reading

“Orlando Cepeda wants to know where his money went. He also wants to learn what happened to all of his baseball memorabilia, including his 1967 National League Most Valuable Player Award, and wants to be made whole.” Eighty-two-year-old Giants great Orlando Cepeda filed a lawsuit against his daughter-in-law Camille Cepeda... Continue reading

“By discussing finances with your children early and often, you can set them—and future generations—up for success, when it's time to receive the wealth you've accrued.” Almost three quarters of the wealthiest people in the world—those whose net worth is higher than $30 million—are self-made, according to a Wealth-X report.... Continue reading

“Talking about death makes most of us uncomfortable, so we don't plan for it. That's a big mistake, because if you don't have an end-of-life plan, your state's laws decide who gets everything you own.” Without an end of life plan, a doctor you’ve never even met might decide how... Continue reading

The late 'Siegfried & Roy' star, Roy Horn, named lifelong friend and performance partner, Siegfried Fischbacher as the executor of his multi-million-dollar estate, according to his will filed in Las Vegas courts.” Legal documents revealed that performer Roy Horn’s last will and testament was filed in the Las Vegas courts... Continue reading

“Both the state and federal government, administered through the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Medicaid provide disabled individuals with a variety of life enhancing, and sometimes life sustaining, public benefits.” Public benefits for disabled individuals include health care, supplemental income, and resources, like day programs and other vital services. Some... Continue reading

“Recently, the Indiana Court of Appeals decided the case of Trowbridge v. Estate of Trowbridge. The case involved a man, Everett, who, despite their divorce, remained on good terms with his ex-wife, Christal.” A dispute over a will that made its way to the Indiana Court of Appeals serves as... Continue reading

“What may have seemed like something to take care of ‘one day,’ has turned into a basic necessity that makes it essential and necessary for you to encourage your clients to act now.” The Covid-19 pandemic has brought estate planning front and center to many people who would otherwise dismiss... Continue reading

“Estate planning documents often are treated like the photocopied permission slip for a child’s field trip. You fill in your name, include the children’s names and dates of birth and sign. The document is filed away to be used if needed, but you really never expect it to be used.”... Continue reading

“Without an estate plan in place, clients will be reliant on state laws and probate courts to appoint individuals who will be responsible for financial affairs and health-care decisions, in the case of illness and ultimately the transfer of assets upon death.” The continuing escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic has... Continue reading

“It can be hard to move through your daily life after someone you love dies. It may be even harder to embark on the complex tasks required to put their financial affairs in order. However, you can't afford to put that off.” When a member of a family dies, it... Continue reading

“When the Spanish painter Pablo Picasso died of a heart attack on April 8, 1973, he left behind not only a huge artistic oeuvre of 50,000 works, but enough family drama to cover several generations.” The great artist was also known for the many women he was involved with, but... Continue reading

“Each year, senior citizens lose billions of dollars to financial fraud, with the loss to individual victims averaging tens of thousands of dollars.” The extended isolation and loneliness during the coronavirus pandemic is creating the perfect storm for financial exploitation of seniors, who are unable to visit with family members... Continue reading

“For most Americans, Social Security plays an important role in maintaining retirement security. The benefit payments represent an income stream that is free of default, investment, inflation and longevity (outliving your money) risks.” For decades, Americans have taken comfort from knowing that no matter what else happened with their retirement... Continue reading

“COVID-19 is quickly becoming the leading cause of death in the United States. As of today, Indiana has over 37,000 cases of COVID-19 and over 2,100 deaths. That is why articulating your wishes regarding end-of-life health care, is more important than ever.” The number of Americans who have died in... Continue reading

“If you want a legal plan that avoids probate court, there are two options: first, an enhanced life estate deed, and second a living trust. Each has its pros and cons.” There are numerous ways to accomplish distributing property according to specific wishes. A woman with three grown daughters faced... Continue reading

“This type of trust can be established to benefit your spouse, children, grandchildren and other descendants. However, it may be more appropriate in some situations than others. Getting to know the details of what an IDGT is and how it works can help you decide if it makes sense for... Continue reading