How to Properly Leave Assets to Minor Children
Knowledgeable Estate Planning Attorneys for Clients in California In California, a minor child can't inherit property in his or her own name. That doesn't mean you can't bequeath your assets to minor children, it just means that the child or children in question won't...

Who Does the Estate Tax Apply To?
Seemingly every presidential election cycle, we hear a lot of talk regarding the “estate tax” or, as its detractors refer to it, the “death tax.” One Forbes commentator called it “one tax that comes about as close as possible to being theft.” Conservative politicians...

Do I Have to Pay the Gift Tax on Christmas Gifts?
One of the more misunderstood concepts in the American taxation system is that of the gift tax. Most people have heard of the term “gift tax” without a clear sense of what it is, who pays it, and when. As the holiday gift giving season heats up, you might wonder if...

What are a California Trustee’s Duties in Investing Trust Assets?
One of the key aspects of setting up a California trust for the sake of your beneficiaries is to select a trustee. The trustee will be in charge of managing the property that the “settlor” (in other words, the creator of the trust) places in the trust for the benefit...

Revocable and Irrevocable Trusts
Estate planning is about more than just money. One of our guiding principles is to help our clients pass on their values through estate planning solutions. An estate plan not only distributes funds to loved ones, but, if done properly, can give your loved ones...

The Importance of Estate Planning at the End of 2016
It is hard to believe, but we are already in the last days of 2016. For some, 2016 and its bruising presidential election will not be missed, while, for others, the uncertainty of a new presidential regime in 2017 raises numerous concerns. Either way, you will want to...

The Most Common Types of New Car Defects
With the average cost of a new car in the United States now at $33,560 - and that is before California adds its 7.5% sales tax (another $2,500+) and the cost of title fees - the last word you want to hear after shelling out the kind of cash is “defect.” And while the...