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Should I Add My Trust to My Homeowner's Insurance Policy?
In the aftermath of the Pacific Palisades fires, we received many inquiries from concerned clients regarding coverage for trust property.
2 min read
61 views


2025 Estate and Gift Tax Report
Pleasanton estate planning attorney explains estate and gift tax rules and considerations for 2025. Keeping step with recent years since...
7 min read
49 views


2023 Estate and Gift Tax Report
As described in this article, 2023 marks the highest estate and gift tax exemptions to date.
5 min read
141 views


Eliminating Capital Gain on Real Estate Owned By California Couples
If you hold real estate in Joint Tenancy with a spouse, and the survivor of you sells a property after a death, you'll be over taxed.
3 min read
860 views


How Do I Choose My Successor Trustee?
One of the tasks in creating a trust is designating a successor trustee to carry out your wishes when you can no longer act.
3 min read
195 views


Estate Planning Documents for Children Over 18
Recommended steps to get a basic estate planning foundation in place for a child over 18, so parents can still be involved and help them.
3 min read
132 views


How Can Life Insurance Be Used In Estate Planning?
Life insurance is a great tool for estate planning. However, there are nuances that sometimes get overlooked which, if left unchecked,...
5 min read
67 views


The Flexible Estate Tax Planning Trust
"In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes." - Benjamin Franklin When it comes to estate taxes (otherwise referred to as...
4 min read
129 views


Trusts and the Above 200k Income Problem
Tips on avoiding proposed taxes on income over $200,000 for trusts that that are taxed separately from the trust's grantor/creator.
2 min read
160 views


Estate Tax Reform Missing from Current Plan
Instead of focusing on estate tax reform, or the "billionaire tax," the current focus proposes increased taxes on incomes over 10 million.
2 min read
39 views


Here We Go Again - Estate Tax Exemption May Be Reduced Come Next Year
Bill provisions reduce the Estate Tax Exemption from $11.7 Million down to $5 Million adjusted for inflation. effective next year.
2 min read
76 views


Bills to Repeal Stepped-Up Basis
Discussion of the potential loss of the step-up in basis and resulting planning strategies.
2 min read
84 views


Who Should Have a Copy of My Trust?
Here are four simple and practical tips to lay a proper foundation for future accessibility and use of your living trust based estate plan.
4 min read
839 views


How Biden's New Proposed Tax Plan Affects Estate Planning
Biden's American Families Plan did not include provisions to expand estate taxes, and instead focused on capital gains.
3 min read
328 views


What Happens to My Mortgage When I Die?
When a family member inherits a deceased person's home, they typically have rights and options relating to the existing mortgage.
2 min read
436 views


You've Signed Your Trust, Now What?
It is critical that your assets be properly integrated with your living trust. Here's how to do it.
5 min read
546 views


Moving Over 55? The Silver Lining of Prop 19
There has been a lot of talk lately about estate planning with California real estate after the passage of Prop 19, with the focus being...
3 min read
1,285 views


How Prop 19 Changes Estate Planning
Prop 19 has significantly narrowed the parent-child exclusion. Consider Making Transfers of California Real Estate by February 15, 2021.
3 min read
704 views


Election Result Could Warrant Making Gifts Now Instead of at Death
People are eager to look into ways to gift away assets now, taking advantage of the current gift and estate tax exemption.
4 min read
267 views


New Law Increases Asset Protection for California Homeowners
California law allows homeowners to protect a certain amount of equity in their homes from if they are sued or file for bankruptcy....
4 min read
232 views
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