Divorce is more common now than it was in the past, as is remarriage. Depending on how long a prior marriage lasted, the former couple may have done a certain amount of estate planning together. When that is the case, it is important to understand how a subsequent marriage can impact the estate planning from a […]
What a busy few years it’s been for the entertainment industry and the probate courts of California! We are, of course, referring to the recent lifting of conservatorships from such stars as Britney Spears and now Amanda Bynes. In 2021, Britney Spear’s conservatorship ended after thirteen years and a massive online campaign. Now earlier this month, […]
A trustee usually has quite a bit of discretion in their management of a trust’s accounts, money, and property (known as assets). At the same time, as a fiduciary, a trustee also owes the trust’s beneficiaries a duty of loyalty, which prohibits the trustee from self-dealing. This blog has touched on a trustee’s fiduciary duty to […]
With couples of similar ages, planning for the future is naturally a joint effort. However, if your marriage has a sizeable age gap, meaning you are married to someone who is significantly older or younger than you, the future can look different and mean different things to each of you. To protect yourself, your spouse, and […]
OK, great! The first step is always the hardest, but you’ve finally decided it’s time to meet with an estate planning attorney and get your affairs in order. It’s time to make sure your family is protected. Now that you’ve scheduled your initial meeting, what’s the next step? You can do one of two things: (1) Simply […]
If you’re reading this, you’re one of the millions of Americans who need an estate plan. Why? The short answer is “Everyone, age 18 and older needs an estate plan.” It doesn’t matter if you are old or young, Bezos-rich or just starting adulthood, the fact is, you need a written plan to keep you in control […]
Americans have enjoyed historically high estate tax exemption rates for most of the last twenty years. Such high exemption amounts have kept many of them from needing to seek out more advanced estate planning strategies to avoid estate taxes, which have been as high as 60 percent during those same years. However, it is uncertain what […]
Fellow Americans, every year we gather to cheer on teams as they battle on the gridiron. But now that the haze of Superbowl fever has lifted, let’s turn out attention to an interesting intersection of America’s favorite sport and estate law. In June 2019, Paw Bowlen, the owner of the Denver Bronco’s died. With no named […]
