Slate’s advice columnist, Mallory Ortberg, aka “Dear Prudence,” recently answered an interesting question involving heirloom etiquette that every person who is planning on gifting specific items in their estate plan should read.
Question"Diamond drama: A few years ago, my grandfather carried out one...
This fall there were a bunch of rumors that Hugh Hefner was deathly ill. The witty Playboy mogul responded on Twitter: “I wish the tabloids had informed me a little earlier in the week that I'm sick. I might have cancelled my weekend plans.” Even at 90 years old, Hef’s still got it....
Did you know that instead of being buried in a traditional cemetery or having your ashes scattered in a place that was meaningful to you, you can now be buried in a vineyard run by the Catholic church that makes award-winning California wine? Or turned into a tree? And in a few years...
The Kardashians. Love them or hate them, it is virtually impossible not to “keep up” with them since they are on the cover of nearly every magazine at the grocery store, and often make the evening news. It was only a matter of time before their legal issues found their way on to...
Many of us think nothing of sharing our lives with our friends and family members via social media. It is an easy way to keep up with acquaintances that have moved away, and a much easier way to share photos than pulling out a bunch of dusty albums or, like your grandparents did--...
How can I include the cost of long-term care in my estate plan?
Californians are living longer these days and that longevity is good news for the most part. At the same time, with an aging population comes an array of age-related illnesses that require long-term care. Unfortunately, the costs for medical treatment...
How prepared are most small business owners for retirement?
According to a recent Census Bureau report, by 2029, when all baby boomers will be at least 65 years old, they will represent 20 percent of the population of the U.S. Economists estimate that 10 million small-business owners plan to sell or close...
In 2010, an economics professor named Patricia Bowers passed away. She had no children, so she left most of her modest estate to organizations she cared about. $100,000, however, was set aside to care for her dachshund “Winnie the Pooh” for the rest of the dog’s life.
Fast forward to today,...
The laws of each state vary in the formalities and requirements needed to create a valid estate planning document. This is not to say that all out-of-state documents are necessarily void upon moving to California, however there are several important principles to consider when determining if changes are necessary.
First, it is...
