A trust is a relationship of three parties: (1) the Grantor, also known as the “Trust Maker,” who designs, implements, and funds the trust; (2) the Trustee, also known as the “Trust Manager,” who manages the assets of the trust for the benefit of the Beneficiary in accordance with the terms of the trust; and […]

Although the real estate market has fluctuated over the past few years, over time real estate has appreciated significantly.  The median price of a home in California in 1968 was less than $25,000.  Today, the median price of a home in California is over $450,000.  Typically, if you were to sell a house that has […]

Estate planning invariably involves dealing with assets.  Some assets are common and relatively easy to handle: a residence; checking and savings accounts; and stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.  Other assets create their own unique complexities.  CEB, a publication of practice manuals for attorneys, has a volume entitled, Estate Planning for Special Assets.  The volume covers […]

We take for granted the fact that we have the basic civil right to make personal decisions for ourselves.  We can decide where we are going to live, with whom we are going to associate, what we are going to eat, who will be our health care professionals, what kind of medication we will take, […]

Most people are aware that the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) provides deposit insurance that guarantees the safety of accounts in certain member banks up to $250,000.  However, most people are unaware that accounts held in the name of a revocable living trust can increase the amount of FDIC insurance coverage depending upon whether the […]

One of the main problems competent and thorough estate planning resolves is the issue of access to assets that are titled in the name of someone who is unable to act due to incapacity or death.  A detailed estate plan will often include a revocable living trust, a property power of attorney, and a pour-over […]

My five-year old son is quite the sports fanatic.  He has been ice skating since he was two years old and currently plays in an ice hockey league.  He has played soccer for almost as long.  He enjoys tennis with my wife and my father on occasion.  We play touch football at the beach as […]

My wife, son, and I are fortunate enough to live in the same house my grandparents owned since the 1950’s.  I was very close to my grandparents and spent a lot of time in the house in my childhood.  Each part of the house and its yard is filled with numerous memories and stories. Because […]

Popstar Taylor Swift – who is always on top of what is hip and trendy – was recently quoted as saying that young fans never request her to sign autographs.  Instead, her fans request that she take selfies with them.  In this modern age where most people have cameras built into their cellphones and thus […]

Often, surviving spouses and children of a decedent are entitled to certain Social Security and other benefits.  Similarly, if a child was conceived during the decedent’s lifetime but born after the parent’s death, such children will often still be considered children of the decedent and likewise entitled to certain Social Security benefits.   However, science […]