Are you the current owner of an individual retirement arrangement (IRA) or, perhaps, a beneficiary of one? There are several different distribution options available to those who are beneficiaries of an IRA and these options differ depending on who the… Read More

What happens to you after you die? We can’t tell you that much, but we can tell you what happens to your assets. If you die without a trust or only a will, most or all of your assets may… Read More

The most common type of trust created by a married couple is a revocable living trust, and for those living in California, often the assets inside the trust are community property. However, depending on your marital and family situation, having… Read More

How your property is titled can affect how it is taxed and whether or not it receives a step-up in basis upon your death. Therefore, consider adding your spouse, child, friend, or business partner to the title of your property… Read More

California has the highest state income tax rate in the nation at 13.3%. Even after diligent tax planning, many individuals pay enormous tax bills every year. If you are one of these people, you may achieve huge tax savings by… Read More

Being named the successor trustee of a living trust requires a great deal of responsibility. Having a basic understanding of the trust administration process is essential to fulfilling the intentions of the trust and limiting your personal liability. Familiarize yourself… Read More

Effective in 2018, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, signed into law on December 22, 2017 by President Trump, includes many new provisions that not only impact the taxation of trusts and estates but may also potentially affect your estate… Read More

Are you thinking about setting up a trust for a child, grandchild, or other loved one? You should be aware that transfers into a trust may be subject to gift tax. With careful planning and a Crummey provision, you may… Read More

Due to the administrative powers a trustee holds over the use and maintenance of property held in a trust, the choice of an appropriately capable trustee is an important component in trust planning. Depending on a number of factors, including… Read More

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act doubles the basic exclusion amount for federal estate and gift taxes and the exemption amount for the generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax. For the estates of decedents dying and gifts made after 2017 and before… Read More