by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Jun 27, 2014 | Estate Planning
Do you use Facebook, Paypal or eBay? Do you store photographs, music or other personal files in the cloud? Do you receive paperless statements from your bank or investment accounts? These are just a few of the many ways that people use the Internet every day to...
by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Jun 20, 2014 | Estate Planning
A big part of estate planning is deciding how to distribute assets such as real estate, savings accounts, personal possessions and other valuable property among the people and organizations you wish to benefit. In order to avoid cutting into those gifts, however, it...
by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Jun 13, 2014 | estate plan
The conservatorship process can be an expensive and emotionally trying time for family, as proceedings are a matter of public record and are not kept private. While going to court to appoint a conservator may become necessary to protect someone’s assets or...
by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Jun 13, 2014 | Estate Planning
A recent issue of Consumer Reports Magazine detailed the seven most common money mistakes gleaned from a national survey about Americans’ money habits and provided the following advice on how to avoid them: 1. Not updating wills and beneficiaries. ...
by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Jun 13, 2014 | Retirement
According to the Census Bureau, there are more Americans aged 65 and older now than at any other time in U.S. history. Unfortunately, many of these older Americans have also been forced to retire due to the Great Recession and an inability to find new...
by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Jun 13, 2014 | Estate Planning
Estate planning for married couples can always yield a few surprising differences, but when a decade or more in age separates the couple, it can add a few more wrinkles into the mix, including: Different time horizons – This affects not only a couple’s...
by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Jun 13, 2014 | charitable trusts, Pooled charitable trust, trust, Trusts
Giving to charity via a trust is not only for the wealthy; you can get the emotional and tax benefits of donating just a few thousand dollars by participating in a pooled charitable trust. There are many California charities or investment companies that have set up a...
by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Jun 13, 2014 | deed transfer, Deed transfers, Estate Planning, trust
It is not uncommon for elderly homeowners to transfer their homes into the name of a child (or children) in hopes of reducing estate taxes, avoiding probate or to protect the home in case of long-term care claims. However, this can be a clumsy – and...
by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Jun 13, 2014 | last will and testament, probate attorney, Will
Some of the most unusual stipulations in wills have to do with pets inheriting an entire estate, how someone’s body will be handled after death (cremation or burial would both be too ordinary for some), and, in some sad cases, children or grandchildren being...
by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Jun 13, 2014 | California trust, probate, Trusts
Once you create and sign a California trust, the next step will be to transfer your assets into – or “fund” – the trust. A trust that has not been funded is an empty shell, and will not protect your assets unless those assets are placed in the...
