In the past week I have blogged generally about the need to transfer your assets into your trust and specifically the need to transfer often forgotten assets like timeshares to your trust. The question is HOW?  How does one “transfer” an asset into their California trust?  Today we are going to focus on real estate […]

I have made a list of 7 questions that I feel are important for you to know about BEFORE you hire an estate planning attorney to do your will, trust, powers of attorney and whatever else you need.  I am going to talk about one question here today and if you want the rest of the […]

So many people set up trusts but then fail to get their assets properly “IN” to the trust. Sure you got some nice some forms from a website or a paralegal sold you some documents cheap. Or maybe even a lawyer provided a faux leather binder full of important looking documents. However, estate planning is […]

The rules for trusts are even more complicated with FDIC insurance. Here are the current rules, as of September 20, 2011, from the FDIC website. I hope this helps you. Ownership Categories Revocable Trust Accounts This section explains FDIC insurance coverage for revocable trust accounts, and is not intended as estate planning advice or guidance. […]

Let me start by saying there is no magic trust. As I often tell clients if there was a magic creditor protection trust we could all get one, stop paying for car insurance, and leave reckless lives. Not saying we all would but a lot of people would. Though there is no magic trust there […]

Each July I get the opportunity to guest lecture at the income tax class taught by Folsom, CPA, Daniel Staszak. My notes from this year’s presentation are below for your review. July 14, 2011   Dan Staszak’s CFP – INCOME TAX class    60 Minutes – Probate/Trust Admin   I. Introduction A. JBP – 17th year – Cert […]

A lot of people come home from a vacation with a souvenir they did not intend to ever buy… a shiny new TIMESHARE or ”vacation club” or even a fancy “fractional ownership!”   It seemed like a great idea after a couple of Mai Tais I am sure!  One of the sales benefits often gushed by the […]

Disclaimers are an incredible tool to be used in California estate planning, trust and probate law. Typically they are used after death in probate and trust administration settings. In some cases people call it “after death estate planning.” In any event it is a very powerful tool that not enough California attorneys know about. Below are […]

People throughout California create revocable living trusts to avoid probate Court after death. It’s smart. It’s simple economics. If you have a $500,000 gross estate probate will be over $15,000 after your death.  Having a living trust, which may cost $2,500, will avoid probate. That doesn’t even factor in the emotional cost of probate. Just […]

Disclaimers are an incredible tool to be used in California estate planning, trust and probate law. Typically they are used after death in probate and trust administration settings. In some cases people call it “after death estate planning.” In any event it is a very powerful tool that not enough California attorneys know about. Below are […]