Estate planning is a critical part of securing the future for any family, and for LGBTQ+ individuals, it is particularly important given the legal complexities and challenges that may arise in the current political climate....more
Many families are confident that they have made the necessary preparations to transition their wealth, businesses, foundation and family office to the next generation ... someday, when the time is right. We know that some...more
A comprehensive estate plan provides how your estate is handled in the event of death or incapacitation. It also establishes your desires for how medical and life-sustaining treatments are communicated and administered. ...more
We all make important decisions and engage in regular financial transactions without giving a second thought about our capacity to do so. But what if you suddenly lost the ability? What would happen? While most of us don’t...more
Reaching the age of majority is a critical milestone in a young person’s life. It brings with it important changes and new freedoms. The newly minted adult may now vote, enter into contracts, join the military and marry....more
Acting as an agent under a power of attorney is a big responsibility and it isn’t something everyone can take on. It is possible to resign or refuse the position....more
Estate planning experts usually cite the need to include advance health care directives in a comprehensive estate plan. But there’s often disagreement about the legal names given to those directives and their optimal use,...more
Naturally, COVID-19 has led to a large degree of uncertainty, which emphasizes the importance of having your estate plan in place – or establishing one if you have not done so already. ...more
In uncertain times like these, COVID-19 reminds us to be prepared for the unexpected. Do you have an estate plan in place? If so, now is the time to review those plans and make any necessary updates. If not, consider...more
Over the past few months, life has changed dramatically for a majority of North Carolinians. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for individuals to have estate planning documents, including a will, durable powers of...more
The COVID-19 pandemic has created an atmosphere of stress of a magnitude which is virtually unprecedented in most of our lifetimes. The reality of this crisis has forced many individuals to examine what they can do to protect...more
We hope that you and your loved ones are healthy and safe. 2020, the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic and this new reality of social distancing and isolation will not soon be forgotten...more
With the coronavirus pandemic, many people have asked, “what happens if I die without an estate plan?” Without a properly prepared estate plan, California does your planning for you. ...more
Friends and colleagues- My thoughts are with you during these uncertain times. First and foremost, I want you and your family to stay safe and healthy. Social distancing is a small price to pay for guarding the wellness...more
The COVID-19 virus, or Coronavirus, has thrown the world in to a tailspin. Businesses have closed their doors, once crowded streets are deserted and people are self-isolating in their homes. During this crisis, there are...more
No one likes to think about being incapacitated, but the threat is real. This raises some troubling thoughts about how one’s personal and financial affairs will be handled in the event they’re incapacitated. This article...more
In a youth-focused society, it is difficult to contemplate aging, let alone dying. Many young people assume, incorrectly, that estate planning is just for the elderly or the very wealthy. There are four reasons why everyone -...more
While business owners frequently devote substantial resources to growing their business, they often forget to think of themselves along the way. Originally published in The Press-Enterprise and other Southern California...more
• Do you care who will receive your assets upon your death? • Do you have a minor child or children and want to have a say in who takes care of them if something happens to you? • Do you care who will take care of you...more
We’re coming to the end of the school year and into the days of summer and no one wants to think about anything too “heavy”. It is, however, important to have advance directives in place. All adults (including kids over 18...more
The best-laid plans can go astray. For estate planning purposes, the main complication as a person grows older may be the condition of his or her health. This brief article details two health care directives and explains why...more
National Health Care Decisions Day, for its 10th anniversary, is being “celebrated” all week – April 16 – 22, 2017. The event focuses on making health care planning, including healthcare proxies and advance directives/ living...more
As you pack up extra-long twin sheets and the emergency credit card for your college-bound child, don’t forget to pack her legal documents. Though your high school graduate doesn’t seem too independent while you are still...more
Health care and financial powers of attorney are critical components of an effective estate plan. As this article explains, after executing powers of attorney, it’s important to periodically review them and execute new ones. ...more
With the introduction of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (Act), the world of estate planning has been injected with a dose of certainty after more than 10 years of uncertainty as to federal estate, gift and...more