Does My Trust Still Work If I Move Out of State?

                People who relocate into or out-of California may confront the issue of whether the living trust that they established in the state of their former residence should be revoked and a new trust established under the laws of their new state of residence.  Let us discuss the issues.                 Trusts […]

posted on: January 26, 2015

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Witnesses to Wills

              People should know the legal requirements for the proper execution (signing) of wills.  Under California law, the execution of a will must be witnessed by two persons generally competent to act as witnesses, such as a Lake County wills attorney.  Wills are not notarized.  An exception exists for handwritten wills — so-called […]

posted on: January 26, 2015

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SSI: In-Kind Support & Maintenance

  An individual who receives Supplemental Security Income (“SSI”) receives a maximum of $866 a month in 2013.  This amount is supposed to be enough to provide for all the food and shelter necessities of life. It includes rent, electricity, heat, and food.  Not surprisingly, given the cost of living, many SSI recipients still rely […]

posted on: January 26, 2015

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Considerations for Parents of Children with Developmental Disabilities.

            Parents with a child who has developmental disabilities face different challenges during the life of their disabled child.  These can be grouped into four different stages based on age.  Let us consider what is important at each stage.             Stage 1, from birth till age 3, involves the “Individual Family Services Plan” (“IFSP”).  The […]

posted on: January 26, 2015

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New exclusion from Reassessment for Co-Owners.

          California has enacted a new statutory exclusion from change in ownership for local tax assessments that protects certain cotenants (co-owners) from reassessment at the death of a cotenant.  Real property that has been held for a long time is often taxed at a lower value than it would be if its value were reassessed […]

posted on: January 26, 2015

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California Takes A Step Closer to New Medi-Cal Regulations.

            The Department of Health Care Service (“DHS”) has released for public comment draft regulations regarding the implementation of federal Deficit Reduction Act’s (DRA’s) reforms to Medi-Cal for long term skilled nursing care (not Community Based Medi-Cal).  This brings California closer to DRA implementation which will occur once the final regulations are implemented; which some […]

posted on: January 26, 2015

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Transferring Inheritance Rights

In special circumstances a beneficiary may want to transfer inheritance rights to another.  Let us examine when, why and how such transfers can take place. Consider an heir to a deceased person’s intestate estate (i.e., a person who died without a will).  Sometimes, an heir may want to transfer his/her inheritance rights to the following […]

posted on: January 26, 2015

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Lifetime Transfers from Parent to Children

A significant portion of wealth transfers are lifetime transfers from parents to their children (or grandchildren) while the parents are still alive.  Let us examine why and how such transfers take place and what it means for those involved.   Often due to their immediate life circumstances adult children ask for a portion of their […]

posted on: January 26, 2015

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Vested Rights versus Mere Expectancy

What is vesting and why is vesting important?  Vesting occurs when an interest becomes an enforceable legal right.  Until vesting occurs, an interest is a mere expectancy. Let us examine vesting in the context of estate planning. First, let us consider vesting in the context of a will.  Anyone named as a beneficiary in another’s […]

posted on: January 26, 2015

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What is the Difference Between a Trust and a Will?

What is the difference between a Will and a Living Trust (“Trust”)? This is a basic question people need answered by a Lake County wills attorney. Let us examine the primary differences between Wills and Trusts. These differences relate to the following issues: (1) whether a Probate is involved; (2) what assets and legal affairs […]

posted on: January 26, 2015

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