You're in your 40s, have happy and growing kids, some money in the bank and you've finally crossed off the one thing that's been on your to-do list forever: make an estate plan.It was tough on a lot of fronts - finding the time to organize both your paperwork and your...
Month: July 2018
Why should a young Californian have an estate plan?
You're young, you say. You haven't saved your first million dollars - or even your first $5,000. You don't need an estate plan, you tell your parents. After all, you're just getting started with this thing called adulting.Think again. Accidents strike the young and...
How can we avoid probate in California?
As much as we Californians don't like to think about our own death, we have to -- for the sake of those whom we love.Think about it. If you don't leave a will or a trust, your granddaughter might not have access to the funds you promised her for college tuition. Do...
3 ways to establish a trust when your baby is born
Nothing is more exciting than welcoming a new child into the world. As you cherish your family's new addition, you are likely imagining all the potential and rejoicing at the possibilities. Estate planning may sound like a dire response to this celebratory phase of...
Entering a California business partnership? Set the expectations
Your business partner is kind of like your spouse. You spend hour after hour, day after day, together. Your dream of a future that includes happiness and wealth. Then, as often happens in a marriage, it all comes crashing down when times get tough or when one partner...
What should you know about federal estate taxes?
Most people don't really know that much about federal estate taxes, and the confusion has only increased in the last year since the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act went into place.Here are some of the most important things you should know about how federal estate taxes work: 1....
Supreme Court sales tax ruling could burden smaller businesses
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that states can require online retailers to collect state sales taxes on goods delivered to their residents and businesses. Previously, states only had the power to force retailers to collect such taxes when the retailer had a physical...