If you recently lost a family member or a close loved one, you are undoubtedly still going through the grieving process. At some point, however, the legal ramifications of the decedent’s death will need to be addressed by someone. If that “someone” turns out to be you, and you have never before handled the practical aspects of a loved one's death, you may have a number of questions. One of the first questions people have after losing a loved one that left behind a relatively modest estate is … [Read more...] about Do All Estates Need to Be Probated?
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Turning the Page on 2018 and Looking Forward to 2019
As we turn the page and bid farewell to 2018, we look forward to 2019. This article summarizes the major changes for 2019, both in the tax area and in other areas. Read on to learn more. Turning the Page on 2018 and Looking Forward to 2019 … [Read more...] about Turning the Page on 2018 and Looking Forward to 2019
Top 5 Concerns for a First-Time Executor
When a loved one passes away, the last thing most people want to think about is the practical and legal ramifications of their loved one’s death. If you find yourself in this situation though, and you find that you were appointed to be the Executor of the estate by the decedent, you must focus on the legalities as they apply to the decedent’s estate. Acting as the Executor may seem a daunting prospect if you have never before served in that capacity. To help get you started, the Los Angeles … [Read more...] about Top 5 Concerns for a First-Time Executor
Free Report: Should I Use a Revocable or Irrevocable Trust
You have a number of different legal devices at your disposal when you are engaged in your estate planning efforts. Trusts can satisfy many different respective underlying objectives, and you should understand all of the facts so that you can protect your resources and provide for each person that you love in the ideal manner. A major distinction between classes of trusts is the power of revocation. There are some trusts that you can revoke, and there are also irrevocable trusts. Let's look at … [Read more...] about Free Report: Should I Use a Revocable or Irrevocable Trust
Free Report: Why Is Incapacity Planning Important
The Alzheimer's Association is a fantastic source of information about this horrible disease. According to their website, around 45 percent of people who are 85 years of age and older are suffering from the disease. Alzheimer's disease causes dementia, and people with dementia are typically going to become unable to make sound decisions on their own at some point in time. Topics covered in this report include: Impact of Aging Decision Making Click here to read the whole report or … [Read more...] about Free Report: Why Is Incapacity Planning Important
Questions to Ask When Choosing a Trustee
One of the most popular additions to a well thought out estate plan is a trust. One reason trusts are so popular is the multitude of estate planning goals that can be achieved with a trust. If you plan to include a trust in your estate plan, you will need to appoint a Trustee to oversee the administration of the trust. If you have never before created a trust, you may be a bit intimidated at the thought of having to choose a Trustee. The Los Angeles trust administration attorneys at Collins Law … [Read more...] about Questions to Ask When Choosing a Trustee
Attorney Caprice L. Collins Asks: Do You Have an Incapacity Plan?
The motivation behind creating an estate plan typically comes from the desire to protect and provide for loved ones. While that motivation may initially be a result of the knowledge of your own immortality, death is not the only threat to the stability and safety of you and your loved ones. Your own incapacity could also be a threat. With that in mind, the Los Angeles living trust attorneys at Collins Law Firm urge you to reflect on whether you have an incapacity plan within your estate plan or … [Read more...] about Attorney Caprice L. Collins Asks: Do You Have an Incapacity Plan?
Sager Family Shows Perils of Blended Families
Presented by Attorney Caprice L. Collins Blended families require special planning. Sometimes, the children from the prior marriage bond with the new spouse and the family moves forward in a happy, newly modified form. However, frequently, the new marriage brings conflict between the new spouse and the children of the prior marriage. Such is the case with the Sagers. In 1980, sports reporter Craig Sager married Lisa Gabel. They had three children, Craig, Jr., Kacy, and Krista. But, over … [Read more...] about Sager Family Shows Perils of Blended Families
Los Angeles Medi-Cal Attorney — How to Avoid “Spend-Down”
Planning for your retirement years requires you to do more than simply save money. You need to think about how to protect the money you manage to accumulate for your retirement years as well. One way you can do that is by contemplating the need for long-term care, and the cost of that care, in your estate plan. Specifically, you need to consider the impact that Medi-Cal’s “spend-down” requirement could have on your retirement nest egg or you could lose the entire nest egg. To help you, a Los … [Read more...] about Los Angeles Medi-Cal Attorney — How to Avoid “Spend-Down”
10 Steps in the California Probate Process
One of the most common goals of a comprehensive estate plan is probate avoidance. If you are relatively new to the world of estate planning, you may have listened to well-meaning friends and family members tell you how important it is to avoid probate; however, they may have neglected to explain why probate avoidance is so important. In order to explain why avoiding probate is such a sought after estate planning goal you need to have a better understanding of the California probate process. … [Read more...] about 10 Steps in the California Probate Process
