Is it practical to use life insurance trusts in estate planning? The terms of using life insurance trusts in estate planning have changed in several ways over the last two decades. Whereas 20 years ago the exemption from the federal gift and estate tax was $600,000 and estate planners routinely advised their clients with life...

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How can you circumvent pitfalls and avoid future conflicts when you're planning your estate?

One of the most difficult steps in estate planning is not a logistical one, but an emotional one:  the acceptance of mortality. Although we all know that death is inevitable, most of us...

I am thinking about executing a revocable living trust, but I am not sure if it will be beneficial. How will a trust help my family administer my estate? A revocable living trust is a popular and powerful tool for estate planners, and offers a number benefits for both surviving family members and beneficiaries. The...

There’s a new California Law that just went into effect this New Year that at first glance may seem like it has little effect on you.  California Senate Bill 1050 affects the language required on a notary certificate, specifically it changes the form and wording of the statutory certificates of acknowledgment, jurat and proof...

Some of us are lucky enough to have an IRA account that we will not have to use during our life.  For these individuals, it might be a concern whether to leave this IRA to beneficiaries outright or in a trust.  There has been an ongoing debate relating to whether...

You’ve been responsible, consulted a qualified Estate Planning Attorney, created a Trust, correctly transferred your assets.  And now you want to purchase or refinance a home that will be held in your Trust.  In order to do so, you will need a Trust Certification and Legal Opinion letter, which can only be produced by...