IRS Withdraws Its Support of The Proposed Change to The Estate Tax Valuation Rules

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The US Treasury originally enacted IRC Section 2704 in 1990 to prevent people from taking advantage of the tax system. Specifically, IRC Section 2704(b) states that in valuing property for estate and gift tax purposes, some restrictions on the ability of an entity to liquidate would be disregarded. Currently, the regulation permits certain discounts for lack of control (minority interests) and lack of marketability that are commonly applied to lower the value of transferred interests for gift, estate, and generation-skipping tax purposes.

On August 3, 2016, The Treasury published proposed regulations under IRC Section 2704 that would have disallowed valuation discounts for interest in family controlled businesses that currently apply to gift and estate tax planning. By eliminating the valuation discounts, the proposed regulation would negatively impact succession planning for many small family owned businesses.

On October 4, 2017, the Treasury announced its withdrawal of the proposed regulations, explaining that they took an “unworkable” approach to the problem of artificial valuation discounts. In a press statement, the Treasury stated that the IRC Section 2704 proposed regulations: “would have hurt family-owned and operated businesses by limiting valuation discounts. The regulations would have made it difficult and costly for a family to transfer their businesses to the next generation.” Certainly, if passed, the proposed regulations would have disallowed discounts for lack of control and marketability commonly used by families in wealth transfer planning.

While the Treasury withdrew its proposed valuation regulations, it has released its annual inflation-indexed amounts for 2018:

1.   The annual gift tax exclusion amount (i.e., the amount that can be given annually gift-tax-free to an unlimited number of donees) will increase to $15,000 per donee (or $30,000 for a married couple that elects to split gifts for the year), up from $14,000 in 2017.

2.   The annual gift tax exclusion amount for gifts to a spouse who is not a United States citizen will increase to $152,000, up from $149,000.

3.   The gift, estate, and GST tax exemption amount (i.e., the amount of taxable transfers that can be given transfer-tax-free in the aggregate during lifetime or at death) will increase to $5.6 million per person (or $11.2 million for a married couple), up from $5.49 million.

4.   Recipients of gifts from foreign persons who are corporations or partnerships must report such gifts if the aggregate value of the gifts received in 2018 exceeds $16,111. The threshold for reporting gifts from a foreign person who is an individual will remain at $100,000.

Consulting with an attorney to learn about how valuation and taxation can impact your testamentary wishes is always wise.  If you have any questions about your estate planning needs, please contact the experienced attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri—we offer free half-hour consultations.

Lastly, please remember that each individual situation is unique, and results discussed in this post are not a guarantee of future results.  While this post may detail general legal issues, it is not legal advice.  Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Estate Planning for Special Needs Children

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Having a child with special needs brings countless challenges to overcome. Parents of these children, regardless of age, are their biggest advocates, providers, and caretakers. Life is unpredictable, but if parents have a well thought out plan they can take comfort in knowing their child will continue to be provided for. Therefore, it is essential that parents of a special needs child plan early regarding their estate.

Setting out an estate plan to provide for a child with special needs has its own unique hurdles. One is to design a plan that supplements a child’s government benefits while enhancing the quality of the child’s life. As a parent, if you leave your child too much outright this may risk them losing their public benefits. Another hurdle to overcome is to figure out how to provide for proper supervision, management, and distribution of the inheritance through a third party created and funded Special Needs Trust. The task of estate planning may feel daunting at times, but with a knowledgeable attorney and good organization parents can execute a successful estate plan.

The ultimate goal is to preserve public benefits for a disabled child. Parents will want the plan to provide a lifetime of money management for the child’s benefit, protect the child’s eligibility for public benefits, and ensure a pool of funds available for future use in the event public funding ceases or is restricted.

These goals can be accomplished by executing a Special Needs Trust. If properly drafted and administered, a Special Needs Trust will allow the child to continually qualify for public assisted programs even though their parents have left them an inheritance. This occurs since the assets are not directly available to the child and because this type of trust has strict limits on the trustee’s availability to give money to the child.

Parents who draft a Special Needs Trust will appoint a trustee to act as the child’s money manager. This is a very important decision because it will ensure the long-term success of the Special Needs Trust. Parents should closely counsel with their attorney before making this selection.

Parents may also wish to appoint a guardian or conservator. A conservatorship or guardianship are court proceedings that designate a person to handle certain affairs for an incapacitated person. Where a conservator cares for the estate and financial affairs, a guardian is responsible for personal affairs such as where the child lives or what doctor they see.

Parent’s planning will ensure their child is cared for in the best way possible. But it is important to plan now. If you are considering drafting an estate plan and would like more information about Special Needs Trusts or other options available, please contact the experienced estate law attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri

Lastly, please remember that each individual situation is unique, and results discussed in this post are not a guarantee of future results.  While this post may detail general legal issues, it is not legal advice.  Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship

Understanding the Impact of the Spousal Fiduciary Duty on Estate Planning

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We have outlined the spousal fiduciary duty on this blog before; now, we’re delving a bit deeper to discuss the impact of the spousal fiduciary duty on estate planning.  Traditionally, California courts rely on a common law burden-shifting framework when confronted with the possibility that a spouse has unduly influenced his/her spouse’s estate planning decisions.  However, a 2014 case from a California Court of Appeal—Lintz v. Lintz— took a different approach, and instead, relied on the statutory spousal fiduciary duty articulated in California Family Code section 721 to resolve an estate planning/undue influence claim.

The common law framework provides that the person alleging undue influence bears the burden of proof.  However, the challenger can shift the burden to the proponent of a testamentary instrument by establishing, by a preponderance of the evidence, three elements: 1) a confidential relationship, 2) active procurement of the instrument, and 3) an undue benefit to the alleged influencer.

Departing from the common law, the Lintz court—faced with an allegedly abusive wife who intimidated her husband into amending his trust to her tremendous benefit and to the extreme detriment of her stepchildren—looked to Family Code section 721 when it decided in favor of the husband’s estate.  Section 721 creates a broad fiduciary duty between spouses that demands a duty of “the highest good faith and fair dealing.”  Further, neither spouse may take unfair advantage of the other.  As a result, if any inter-spousal transaction advantages only one spouse, a statutory presumption arises under section 721 that the advantaged spouse exercised undue influence.  The presumption is rebuttable—the advantaged spouse can demonstrate that the disadvantaged spouse’s action was freely and voluntarily made, with full knowledge of the facts, and with a complete understanding of the transaction.

California Family Code section 850 describes three categories of inter-spousal transactions: 1) community property to separate property, 2) separate property to community property, and 3) separate property of one spouse to separate property of other spouse.  Notably, the section does not consider transferring community or separate property to trusts.

The court concluded that section 721 applies because section 850 does include property transferred to revocable trusts—in Lintz, Wife’s undue influence caused Husband, via his trust, to transmute a large part of his separate property to community property.  Accordingly, the court held that Family Code section 721 creates a presumption of undue influence when one spouse names the other as a beneficiary in a revocable trust.

Criticism of the decision abounds—all estate plans that name a spouse as a beneficiary, by their very nature, benefit one spouse.  In turn, use of the Family Code undue influence presumption threatens to disturb all testamentary instruments, and litigation may flood the family courts as spouses seek to rebut the seemingly automatic presumption that Lintz creates.  On the other hand, some commenters believe Lintz does not indicate a new paradigm, but rather, showcases a court’s eagerness to remedy the serious injury inflicted by a spouse’s egregious influence.

At the very least, the Lintz case does demonstrate that estate planning and family law are deeply intertwined.  Consulting with an attorney to learn how a marriage or divorce can impact your testamentary wishes is always wise.  If you have any questions about your family law and/or estate planning needs, please contact the experienced attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri—we offer free half-hour consultations.

Lastly, please remember that each individual situation is unique, and results discussed in this post are not a guarantee of future results.  While this post may detail general legal issues, it is not legal advice.  Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.

SOURCES:

California Family Code section 721

California Family Code section 850

Lintz v. Lintz (2014) 222 Cal.App.4th 1346.

Trust Administration: How a Trustee Can Collect Reasonable Fees

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Although trusts do avoid the complication and expense of probate proceedings, a trustee—the person given power to hold legal title to and to manage trust assets—is not necessarily spared the administrative burdens that can accompany estate management.  Trustee responsibilities can include clearing title to property held in the decedent’s name, the preparation and filing of estate and income tax returns, and the collection of insurance proceeds—essentially any task necessary to administer the trust as the trust instrument instructs.  Typically, the creator of the trust—the settlor—will appoint a trustee in the trust instrument and provide compensation from his or her estate for the trustee’s services.  However, if the trust instrument does not specify any compensation, California Probate Code § 15681 allows a trustee to receive “reasonable compensation under the circumstances.”

In re McLaughlin’s Estate defines “reasonable.”  First, the trial court has wide discretion when making a fee determination, but it should consider the following factors:

1) The gross income of the trust estate

2) The success or failure of the trustee’s estate administration

3) Any unusual skill or experience which the trustee may have brought to his/her work

4) The fidelity or disloyalty displayed by the trustee

5) The amount of risk and responsibility assumed by the trustee

6) The time spent by the trustee in carrying out the trust

7) Community customs as to fees allowed by settlors/courts or as to fees charged by trust companies and banks

8) The character of the administration work done

9) Whether the work was routine or involving skill and judgment

10) Any estimate which trustee has given of his/her own services.

In McLaughlin, the appeal court concluded, after considering the above factors, that the trial court justly allocated reasonable fees—the trustees had profitably and with special skill managed the trust property, had accurately summarized receipts and transactions, and had committed a large amount of time to the trust’s administration.

Estate of Nazro provides another example of the above factors in action: Here, although the trustee received dividend checks, made bank deposits, wrote checks, prepared quarterly accountings, and reviewed trust assets, the work did not consume much of the trustee’s time.  Further, the court noted that corporate trustees in the area customarily charged management fees based on a schedule of percentages of the value of the various trust assets.  Therefore, the court held that $2,500 was an appropriate amount of compensation for the trustee’s services.

Ultimately, managing a trust estate is not always a walk in the park—if not otherwise provided, trustees should not be afraid to ask for compensation for their services.  However, keep in mind that compensation must reasonable and proportional to the work done on behalf of the trust.

If you have recently been named or appointed as a trustee or you are interested in creating a trust, please contact the experienced attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri.  We can help you understand what being a trustee entails, and if you want to create a trust, how you can properly compensate your chosen trustee.

Lastly, please remember that each individual situation is unique, and results discussed in this post are not a guarantee of future results.  While this post may detail general legal issues, it is not legal advice.  Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Sources:

California Probate Code § 15681

In re McLaughlin’s Estate (1954) 43 Cal.2d 462

Estate of Nazro (1971) 15 Cal.App.2d. 218

Estate Planning for Millennials

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While estate planning may sound like an activity reserved for the baby boomer generation, even Millennials can get in on the fun!  Further, estate planning is not only for people with ample assets—planning for your future can extend to healthcare decisions and even your Facebook account.  Of course, thinking about death—especially one’s own—is hard, but there are many benefits to be reaped from laying out a few guidelines for your loved ones.

To begin, estate planning at a young age may not involve complex financial considerations, but there are two key areas to focus on: healthcare and personal property.

First, once you turn 18 years old, family members no longer have the legal right to access your medical records, and should you become incapacitated, your family would not be able to speak to your doctors or make medical decisions on your behalf.  Estate planning ensures that in the event of your incapacitation, your health is taken care of according to your wishes and by people you trust—

1) Advanced Healthcare Directive: A legal document in which you detail what medical actions should be taken if you are incapacitated or unable to make decisions on your own.  This document can be used to record your preference (or not) for a “do not resuscitate” order.

2) Durable Power of Attorney: A legal document which, should you become incapacitated, gives power to a person of your choosing to make medical or financial decisions on your behalf.  A durable power of attorney works in conjunction with an advanced healthcare directive to ensure that your health preferences are understood and heeded.

3) HIPPA Release Form: This form allows people listed on your advanced healthcare directive to access your medical records.  Access to your records makes it easier for your designated caregivers to make informed decisions regarding your health.

Second, you may not have a lot of assets, but most likely, you do have some treasured possessions.  To prevent your assets from being waylaid by intestacy (in which state laws determine how your property is distributed), consider making a will or trust—

4) Wills and Trusts:  A will and/or trust details to where and to whom your assets will go after your death.  While you may be content to let intestacy laws distribute your estate, creating a will or trust can streamline the process and assure your relatives that they are honoring your true wishes.  Importantly, besides money, you should consider other cherished aspects of your estate.  First, your pet—who will take care of your beloved fur friend?  Second, consider family heirlooms passed down to you through grandma and grandpa—a will or trust ensures that those items fall into the right hands.  Third, do you want to allocate any assets to a significant other?  If you and your partner are not married, he or she is not entitled to any of your assets and will likely receive nothing through intestacy either.  Whether you want to leave money or possessions—valuable or sentimental—a will or trust ensures your significant other receives a piece of your estate.

5) Digital Assets:  Social media accounts and digital files need postmortem management, especially if you would like your family to shut down your various online accounts.  Federal law does not require that websites permanently delete the account of a deceased user.  Therefore, designating a digital “executor” and creating an inventory (with updated usernames and passwords) of your online accounts that details what you would like done with them can ensure your online presence is handled according to your wishes.

Death is a difficult subject, but estate planning ensures that your family is not left without direction for how your final wishes should be carried out.  Therefore, if you are interested in learning more about estate planning, please contact the experienced attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri.  We can help determine what documents would best safeguard your assets and/or your medical wishes.

Lastly, please remember that each individual situation is unique, and results discussed in this post are not a guarantee of future results.  While this post may detail general legal issues, it is not legal advice.  Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.

 

Three Things to Know About Creating a Living Trust

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First, one of the biggest advantages of creating a living trust is avoiding probate court.  Administering a will or trust through probate court takes time and money.  A living trust is a great estate planning vehicle because it can keep the entire administration process court-free.  When the settlor of the trust passes away, the terms of the trust dictate how the estate should be administered. In turn, probate court is avoided.

Second, make sure that the successor trustee is someone who is capable of administering the trust.  Often times, the oldest child is chosen to be the successor trustee.  However, the oldest child is not always the right choice.  A successful administration requires a trustee who is organized, diligent, and capable of administering the trust.  It is also beneficial to have someone with an understanding of accounting.  If your oldest child does not have any of these characteristics, consider appointing another child, relative, or friend.  If no one you know is capable of administering the estate, you may have to hire a third party. There are a number of trust companies and banks that administer trusts.  The biggest concern about hiring a third party is the administration fees, which can be substantial.  If your estate can handle the fees, a third party may be the right choice for you.  Lastly, a trust will never fail for lack of a trustee.  If the elected trustee refuses, another one will be appointed.

Finally, creating a trust avoids California’s intestacy laws.  A state’s intestacy laws provide the default estate plan for those who die without a will.  In California, the beneficiary of a decedent’s estate depends on whether the property was community property or separate property.  Assuming that decedent was married and had community property, the surviving spouse’s intestate share is the decedent’s one-half share of the community property.  On the other hand, if the decedent’s property was separate property, the intestate share of the surviving spouse depends on how many children the decedent had, if any.  While it is important to know a state’s intestacy laws, they should be avoided at all cost.  Thus, creating a trust is a way to avoid intestate succession and have your estate administered the way you want it.

If you are interested in creating a living trust or have any questions regarding your current estate plan, please contact the experienced estate planning attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri for further information.  The attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri have decades of experience handling complex estate planning matters, and we are happy to offer you a free consultation.  Please remember that each individual situation is unique and results discussed in this post are not a guarantee of future results.  While this post may detail general legal issues, it is not legal advice.  Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Sources:

California Probate Codes § 6400-6414.

Going to California, The Quasi-Community Property State

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A move to the Golden State has the potential to change the character of your property.  Upon arrival in California, meeting with an experienced California estate planning attorney is a must!

Generally, there are two kinds of property systems: community property and separate property.  California is one of nine community property regimes in the United States.* Presumptively, community property is all property acquired by a couple during marriage.  The community property system gives each spouse a fifty percent (50%) interest in the property, among other characteristics.  In California, separate property is all property owned by a person before marriage and all property acquired by gift, bequest, or devise during marriage.

California’s community property system is unique because it also recognizes “quasi-community property.”  Quasi-community property includes all property, wherever situated, that would have been treated as community property had the acquiring spouse been domiciled in California at the time of acquisition.  For example, if husband bought a car with funds earned during marriage, while living in Minnesota, a separate property state, the property would be the husband’s separate property.  However, if husband and wife moved to California and then filed for divorce, the car would be considered quasi-community property.  The reason being is that if the husband was domiciled in California at the time he had purchased the car, it would have been characterized as community property.  Pursuant to California law, all property acquired during marriage, including a spouse’s earnings, is community property.  Therefore, in accordance with the quasi-community property statute, each spouse would have a fifty percent (50%) interest in the car.

The example above is just one of many that may give rise to quasi-community property.  Nonetheless, it illustrates the potential effect a move to California can have upon one’s property.  Moreover, each state has the authority to make its own property laws.  Therefore, it is imperative that when you move to a new state, especially from a separate property state to a community property state, you visit an experienced estate planning attorney.

For more information about quasi-community property or estate planning in general, please contact the experienced estate planning attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri for further information.   The attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri have decades of experience handling complex estate planning matters, including quasi-community property issues, and we are happy to offer you a free consultation.  Please remember that each individual situation is unique and results discussed in this post are not a guarantee of future results.  While this post may detail general legal issues, it is not legal advice.  Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.

*https://www.irs.gov/irm/part25/irm_25-018-001.html

HOW AN ESTATE PLAN COULD HAVE CARRIED ON PRINCE’S CHARITABLE LEGACY

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In the wake of rock & roll legend Prince’s untimely death, a number of issues have arisen regarding his estate plan – or lack thereof.  One of the biggest issues is that none of the charities that Prince donated to throughout his life will inherit from his approximately 150 million dollar estate.

CNN Political Commentator, friend, and philanthropic partner of Prince, Van Jones, described Prince as “The Silent Angel.”*  During Prince’s lifetime, he anonymously donated millions of dollars to dozens of charities.  Unfortunately, since Prince died without a will, the charities that used to receive substantial donations from Prince will inherit nothing.  Instead, his estate will be distributed pursuant to Minnesota’s intestacy laws.  For those who die without a will, intestacy laws are a state’s default estate plan.  The estate is usually distributed among the decedent’s heirs.  Prince dying intestate is strange because of the the size of his estate, and his propensity to give to charity.

It is uncommon for someone with an estate as big as Prince’s to not do any kind of estate planning.  In fact, those with big estates often do what is referred to as “advanced estate planning.” One advanced estate planning practice is to create a charitable trust.  A charitable trust is an estate planning vehicle that can fulfill your philanthropic endeavors, all the while, having your estate receive beneficial tax treatment.  There are generally two kinds of people that set up charitable trusts: those who are charitably inclined and those who take advantage of the tax benefits.

For those who are charitably inclined, a charitable trust can and should be tailored to accomplishing your philanthropic undertakings.  A charitable trust allows an individual to make charitable donations during life and after death.  Setting up a charitable trust is a way to ensure that a charity will continue to receive donations after the settlor has passed away.  Other benefits of creating a charitable trust, and an estate plan, include, but are not limited to, avoiding probate, minimizing conflict during trust administration, and fulfilling the settlor’s intent.

For those who are primarily tax-driven, there are various tax benefits of which one can take advantage.  In short, there are different kinds of charitable trusts.  Each receives different kinds of tax treatment, has different formation requirements, and other distinguishing characteristics.  If creating a charitable trust is something that you want to do, or are at least considering, meeting with an experienced estate planning attorney is imperative, because estate planning requires expertise and precision when determining which avenues should be taken.  Had Prince set up a charitable trust during his life, not only would the charities that relied upon his generous donations be taken care of, but his estate would be taking advantage of the tax benefits.

Unless a will is found, we will never know how Prince would have wanted his estate to be distributed. It is likely that he would have had wanted a portion of it to go to charity.  If you possess a philanthropic disposition, creating a charitable trust is something that should definitely be considered.  A few of the benefits of creating a charitable trust are accomplishing your charitable goals, helping those who need it, and receiving tax benefits.

If you are interested in creating a charitable trust or have any questions regarding your current estate plan, please contact the experienced estate planning attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri for further information.  The attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri have decades of experience handling complex estate planning matters, including charitable trusts, and we are happy to offer you a free consultation.  Please remember that each individual situation is unique and results discussed in this post are not a guarantee of future results.  While this post may detail general legal issues, it is not legal advice.  Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.


* http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/22/opinions/prince-eight-things-to-know-jones/

The Strangest Wills of All Time

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The Huffington Post recently compiled a list of 7 of the weirdest, but very real, wills of all time. Although some are foreign wills, the article serves to remind us that wills are a powerful tool. Creating a will allows us to control the disposition of our property, and fulfill some last wishes.

1.       The Original “P.S. I love you”

Comedian Jack Benny left a provision in his will instructing a local florist to deliver a red rose to his wife every day for the rest of her life.

2.       A Dog’s Life

Businesswoman, Leona Helmsley, left her dog “Trouble” 12 million to inherit. (Although a judge later reportedly reduced the inheritance to 2 million)

3.       The Talking dead

Magician, Harry Houdini’s, last wishes included a request for his wife to hold a mini séance every year on the anniversary of his death. Houdini had promised to contact his wife after death and they even agreed upon a phrase that he would say as confirmation that it was him really speaking. His wife, however, quit the séances a decade after his death.

4.       The unhappy husband

German poet, Heinrich Heine’s wife was set to inherit all his assets upon the fulfillment of one condition, she had to remarry. His will reportedly read, “because, then there will be at least one man to regret my death.”

5.       The Stork Derby

Toronto businessman, Charles Miller’s, left his fortune to the married woman in Toronto who could birth the most children in the decade following his death. The stork derby, as the race for the fortune later became labeled, eventually led to a 4 woman tie, each producing 9 children.

6.       The unfitting funeral

Writer, F. Scott Fitzgerald, initially wrote in his will that his funeral should be “suitable” and “in keeping with my station in life.” However, by the time he died, Fitzgerald had changed his will to say it should be the “cheapest” funeral because Fitzgerald had gone into debt.

7.       Controlling from the grave

Real estate millionaire, Maurice Laboz, who died in 2015 left his nearly $40 million estate to his 2 daughters. His daughters are set to receive the inheritance at 35, but can receive bonuses before, if they adhere to certain rules. For example:

1)      Daughter, Marlena, will receive 500,000 upon marrying, but only if her husband signs a sworn statement promising to not touch the money

2)      Marlena will receive another 750,000 if she graduates from an accredit university and writes an essay “100 words or less describing what she intends to with the funds”

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/7-of-the-most-unusual-wills-of-all-time_us_55fb0059e4b0fde8b0cd5bc5?utm_hp_

If you would like to learn more about wills or avoiding probate in general, call Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri to schedule a free half-hour consultation. Our attorneys are passionate about estate planning and have decades of experience handling complex estate planning matters, including wills and living trusts. If you are interested in developing an estate plan or reviewing your current estate plan, contact the experienced estate planning attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri for further information.

 

 

 

How to protect your assets, even if you didn’t win the billion dollar powerball

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After the historical $1.5 billion jackpot was finally won, it is time for many of us to consider how to protect our assets during our lifetime and after. Although winning the lottery may not be something we will experience, many of us do have valuable assets that we would like to protect when we are gone.  Therefore, this year it might be time to give your estate plan a review.

An important tool in estate planning to consider is the living trust (also called a revocable living trust). In its simplest form, a living trust is a written agreement which sets forth what happens to your assets in the event of your death.  One of the greatest advantages of a living trust is that it protects your estate from the probate process, which can be time consuming and expensive. And while a living trust is primarily used as a convenient and efficient way to distribute your assets upon death, you still maintain control over all your assets during your lifetime. Therefore you can alter, add or revoke the living trust at any time for any reason.

In many situations, a trust is the best way to achieve your goals. With a trust you can:

  • Avoid probate
  • Provide for your care should you no longer be able to handle your own affairs
  • Provide for children from a previous marriage
  • Hold money for minors and ensure they cannot spend it all the minute they come of age
  • Protect assets from creditors and former spouses
  • Benefit family and charity through one mean

Probate, on the other hand, is the process the court utilizes to manage the affairs of a decedent’s estate. In contrast to a living trust, the probate process, in most metropolitan areas in California, can take about 6- 18 months. This delay creates additional expenses that can consume 3% to 6% or more of the gross value of the probate estate.

At Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri, our estate planning attorneys don’t believe in offering services that are “one size fits all.” We understand that each family has particular needs and concerns, and we can customize our estate planning services to meet these specific needs and ensure that your long term wishes are carried out. If you are interested in nonprobate transfers or have any questions regarding your current estate plan, please contact the experienced estate planning attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri for further information. The attorneys at Lonich Patton Erlich Policastri have decades of experience handling complex estate planning matters, including nonprobate transfers, and we are happy to offer you a free consultation. Please remember that each individual situation is unique and results discussed in this post are not a guarantee of future results.  While this post may detail general legal issues, it is not legal advice.  Use of this site does not create an attorney-client relationship.

Source:

http://www.forbes.com/sites/deborahljacobs/2012/01/04/make-a-new-years-resolution-to-give-your-estate-plan-a-checkup-2/#2715e4857a0b7be8584f7cf0

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LONICH PATTON EHRLICH POLICASTRI

Phone: (408) 553-0801
Fax: (408) 553-0807
Email: contact@lpeplaw.com

1871 The Alameda, Suite 400
San Jose, CA 95126

Located in San Jose, Lonich Patton Ehrlich Policastri handles matters for clients in northern California, specifically San Jose and Silicon Valley. Our services are available to anyone within the following counties: Santa Clara, San Mateo, Contra Costa, Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito, and San Francisco. For a full listing of areas where we practice, please click here.

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