How should members of the “sandwich generation” protect themselves and their loved ones? Members of the sandwich generation, those responsible for aging parents and children (even adult children) simultaneously, may experience a great deal of stress, financially as well as emotionally. In such cases, a skilled estate planning attorney  can be a godsend. The sandwich…

What do property owners have to consider when engaging in estate planning? Estate planning, desirable for almost everyone, is absolutely necessary for homeowners who co-own property.  They must be prepared for the eventuality of the death of a spouse, family member, friend or colleague with whom they share ownership. Clearly, it will be necessary to…

How does this landmark United States Supreme Court decision effect estate planning strategies? While the State of California has recognized same-sex marriage for a number of years, a recent landmark United States Supreme Court decision has legalized this practice across the country.  Even though this type of marriage was already legal in California it is…

I hear a lot of different information about the consequences of making a mistake in an estate plan. How can I separate fact from fiction?  Estate planning is, of course, an important consideration for every family, regardless of size or financial situation. However, there are a number of myths out there, many of which are…

What is a revocable trust? A revocable trust is used for estate planning because it allows a transfer of assets to someone during a person’s life (a transfer after death would happen through a will). The assets become the legal property of a trustee, who is supposed to manage them and carry out the wishes…

What are Fraudulent Transfers? Asset protection planning is best done before you have a legal or financial problem. If you wait until these issues occur and then create an asset protection plan, you may be perceived as engaging in a fraudulent transfer. Fraudulent transfers are asset transfers done in the hopes of evading some kind…

It’s called estate planning for a reason. It requires you to look ahead and plan for the future to try to avoid or mitigate the risks of decreased assets or healthcare procedures you do not want. Those issues can be addressed with powers of attorney. Through these legal documents you authorize someone to act on…

Some people work their whole lives to save money so that so that their families are taken care of should they pass away.  As they age, many of these people become concerned that their assets will be depleted should they need long term care.  This is a legitimate concern and many try to protect their…