What is Community Property?
Cryptocurrency is an increasingly common investment in spouses’ portfolios. While cryptocurrency can present unique challenges due to the various exchanges, different forms of recordkeeping, and new vocabulary, the key...more
The recent death of legendary actor, Gene Hackman, age 95, and his wife Betsy Arakawa, age 65, has brought attention to the complexities surrounding their estate and illustrates the need for proper estate planning. At his...more
Divorce is an emotional and complex process, but one important aspect that often gets overlooked is your estate plan. If you don’t update it, your estranged spouse could still inherit your assets or make crucial financial and...more
Divorce can be challenging under any circumstances, but when community property is damaged during legal proceedings, the challenges and stress can escalate significantly. Here in Los Angeles, we seem to face that possibility...more
December 2024 Interest Rates for GRATs, Sales to Defective Grantor Trusts, Intra-Family Loans and Split-Interest Charitable Trusts - The December Section 7520 rate for use in estate planning techniques such as CRTs, CLTs,...more
The term "gray divorce" is commonly used to describe later-life separations, but "golden divorce" might be a more fitting term, suggesting optimism and new beginnings. This concept reminds me of the beloved 1980s sitcom The...more
Merriam-Webster defines “defunct” as “no longer living, existing, or functioning.” In Washington, a “defunct marriage” is a term for spouses who have given up any hope of salvaging the relationship, and yet for whatever...more
This article examines the importance of spousal consents in Arizona and New Mexico. Under Arizona law, lenders cannot enforce a guaranty against community property if the guarantor’s spouse did not consent to it. New Mexico...more
The 1970s were the heyday of the now-extinct television genre known as the variety show: a weekly extravaganza headlined by a well-known entertainer, generally accompanied by a supporting cast of singers, dancers and...more
What are some of the fundamental issues when estate planning for business owners? Why should every business owner have an estate plan? What are some of the primary issues to address in an effective estate plan for those who...more
This fifth installment of my multi-part series on Subchapter S is focused on married individuals who own shares of an S corporation. While the rules relating to shareholder eligibility seem straightforward, their application...more
In early January, the Minnesota Department of Commerce shared new details about the state’s Low and Moderate-income Accessible Community Solar Garden program (the “Program”) application process and requirements. Among other...more
One of the most common assets that divorcing couples own is real property. In many cases, the real property is limited to the marital residence. However, some cases also involve either residential or commercial investment...more
Unknown to many Floridians, Florida enacted the Community Property Trust Act which went into effect on July 1, 2021, and established the ability to convert non-community property into community property. The community...more
KEY FACTS OF REAL ESTATE ACQUISITIONS UNDER CZECH REPUBLIC LAW - I. Types of Real Property Transactions - a) Purchase of an undeveloped plot of land; b) Purchase of a developed plot of land; c) Purchase of a...more
When discussing the ever-evolving landscape of Florida’s commercial real estate (CRE) market, one trend has begun to stand out — the rise of pickleball. This sport, once a leisurely pastime, has turned into a compelling...more
Around the world there are millions of people who rely on insurance for homes and vehicles to celebrity body parts. Nowadays, there is even insurance to cover the postponement or cancellation of one’s wedding. Ironically,...more
In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court held that Section 523(a)(2)(A) of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code precludes a debtor from discharging a debt obtained by fraud, regardless of the debtor's own culpability. ...more
Student loans have become a familiar discussion among families and, more recently, a subject for debate between the federal government and the Courts....more
In Bean v. Bean, a dissenting co-executor sought relief from a probate court regarding whether certain assets were separate property or community property. No. 05-21-00286-CV, 2022 Tex. App. LEXIS 9058 (Tex. App.—Dallas...more
KEY FACTS OF REAL ESTATE ACQUISITIONS UNDER CZECH REPUBLIC LAW - I. Types of Real Property Transactions - a) Purchase of an undeveloped plot of land; b) Purchase of a developed plot of land; c) Purchase of a building...more
In Leggio v. Florian, the trial court awarded three real estate properties to the wife over an allegation by the husband that all of the properties were his separate property. No. 14-21-00168-CV, 2022 Tex. App. LEXIS 5563...more
The demographics of family life have changed a lot in recent decades. Young people are marrying less and later in life when they do. The number of young people interested in having kids is in decline. And older folks are...more
The cryptocurrency market was down approximately 64% for the year 2022, with most of the decline occurring before the FTX collapse. For many, this news may bring a feeling of JOMO (Joy of Missing Out). For practitioners...more
What you don’t know about your mortgage could hurt you. In Washington State, we are not a “title state.” Accordingly, placing your spouse’s name on the title of a separate real estate does not automatically make it community...more