by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Mar 11, 2014 | Uncategorized
You’ve invested and saved for retirement all your working life and you think you have your retirement all figured out…but does your spouse share that same dream? According to a study last year from Hearts & Wallets, a retirement trends research firm,...
by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Feb 25, 2014 | probate attorney
Building in flexibility into your California estate plan, which includes naming secondary beneficiaries, is an important aspect of creating a comprehensive estate plan. Still, many people wonder if there is another way that an estate plan can be amended to pass assets...
by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Feb 25, 2014 | Uncategorized
The wills of two celebrities who recently died – Philip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Walker – illustrate the importance of keeping your will up to date. Hoffman died with a 2004 will that left out his two youngest daughters; Walker’s will had not been...
by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Feb 25, 2014 | Uncategorized
Oscar-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman’s will has been filed for probate and provides a cautionary tale when it comes to estate planning mistakes. Here are four things he could have done to correct them:Create a Revocable Living Trust. Hoffman was a public...
by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Feb 25, 2014 | Estate Planning, Uncategorized
A recent Wall Street Journal article examined one way that heirs can inherit real estate while avoiding the cost and hassle of probate through the use of an estate planning tool known as a life estate. A life estate is a deed that allows the real estate owner to...
by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Feb 25, 2014 | Estate Planning
A recent California appeals court ruling in a trust litigation case illustrates the importance of married couples in California following the law when it comes to undue influence where estate planning is concerned. Under California family law, married spouses have a...
by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Feb 11, 2014 | Estate Planning
A lingering effect of the economic recession of recent years is the difficulty individuals still have in obtaining loans, especially if those seeking a loan are young. Parents or grandparents of young borrowers can offer a low interest rate intra-family loan and still...
by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Feb 11, 2014 | Uncategorized
For most working Americans, 401(k) plans will be the largest contributor to their retirement income besides Social Security benefits. Making sure you have a healthy 401(k) is critical to effective retirement planning, so if you need additional motivation to save, here...
by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Feb 11, 2014 | Uncategorized
A New York Times article recently revealed how even the best intentions in long-term care planning can go woefully wrong, providing a cautionary tale for those with long-term care insurance policies.David Pirron is an only child, and recognized the need to implement a...
by Kathryn A. Flanigan | Feb 11, 2014 | Trust Administration
Changes in your life, and the law, dictate that a thorough review of your trust is imperative to ensure it still complies with your original intent. One of the many things you should review is your choice for trustee. Many people agree to become an executor or trustee...
