The California Revocable Transfer on Death Deed (“TOD Deed”), effective January 1, 2016, is intended as an inexpensive alternative to the revocable living trust for persons of modest means to transfer their noncommercial, residential real property without probate. Unfortunately, it poses numerous risks and drawbacks to the beneficiary upon the death of the grantor, as […]
posted on: April 8, 2016
Read MoreMany people in California are familiar with the Revocable Living Trust. Revocable Living Trusts keep trust assets outside of a conservatorship, should the settlor become incapacitated, and also outside of a probate when the settlor dies. Revocable trusts, however, offer no asset protection to the settlor personally, although they can be used to provide the […]
posted on: March 7, 2016
Read MoreTrust Attorney Fees – Trustees have the power to employ attorneys, accountants and other professionals for a variety of reasons related to the trustee’s duties in administering the trust. Let us examine the issue of paying attorney fees in various contexts. The general rule in California is that,” [t]he trustee has the power to pay […]
posted on: February 23, 2016
Read MoreCorrections Article Regarding First Party Special Needs Trusts – Much to my dismay, I have learned that my article, “ Upheaval In the World of First Party Special Needs Trust,” published in December, 2015, contained several items of misinformation. This article makes necessary corrections concerning SSI and estate recovery and regarding certain payments that indeed […]
posted on: February 3, 2016
Read MoreUnder US federal immigration law certain juvenile aliens (which means persons under age 21) who have been declared dependent on a juvenile court can petition to become lawful US permanent residents. Special immigrant juveniles are undocumented juveniles who do not live with their parents, cannot be reunited with their parents due to abuse, neglect or […]
posted on: January 25, 2016
Read MoreThe right to vote in an election is a fundamental right of every citizen. When a person is conserved that right can be taken away if the court determines that the person lacks the capacity to vote. Beginning January 1, 2016, the legal standard for determining one’s capacity to vote in California has changed. Let’s […]
posted on: January 25, 2016
Read MorePersons entrusted with the operations of a Trust must be very carefully selected as Trustees are not usually subject to court supervision (unlike executors in court supervised probates). Trustees, and Special Trustees and Trust Protectors are the persons entrusted with the proper implementation of a Trust in a managerial or oversight capacity. Anyone establishing […]
posted on: December 31, 2015
Read MoreThings don’t always go the way we expect them to, either in life or in death. It is, therefore, important that a person’s trust or will have good contingency planning provisions in place to address future changes in circumstances which might possibly occur. If not, under new case law one can expect litigation by competing […]
posted on: December 15, 2015
Read MoreUnderstanding Joint Tenancy – Joint tenancy with right of survivorship, and more recently community property with right of survivorship, is often used by people who are not fully aware of the ramifications involved. Let’s discuss. Generally speaking, title to important assets — including one’s residence — is not taken in joint tenancy with anyone other […]
posted on: November 16, 2015
Read MoreOn January 1, 2016, many blind and disabled residents of California will become eligible to establish tax free accounts under the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act of 2014 (“ABLE Accounts”) to save for future educational and disability related expenses. ABLE accounts extend the benefits of 529 college savings plans to disabled persons to include […]
posted on: October 26, 2015
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