Signing your trust is only the first step; “funding” it is what actually keeps your family out of court. This guide explains how to transfer bank accounts, real estate, and investments into your trust to ensure your estate plan works exactly as intended.
Proposition 19 has fundamentally changed how inherited property is taxed in California, leading to unexpected financial challenges for many families. Explore the ongoing impact on estate planning and the three statewide petitions currently seeking to reform property tax assessments and initiative processes.
St Patrick’s Day Traditions Heritage and the Legacies We Carry Forward St Patrick’s Day has always been more than a date on the calendar in my family. Growing up in an Irish Midwestern household, it was a day filled with traditions that started early and were never optional. March in the Midwest was often freezing…
Do non-citizens owe U.S. estate taxes? The answer depends less on your passport and more on where you consider “home.” This guide explores the critical difference between being a U.S. domiciliary versus a non-domiciliary, illustrating how status impacts your tax exemption and how a Qualified Domestic Trust (QDOT) can save a surviving spouse from an immediate, overwhelming tax bill.
Should You Give Your Health Care Agent Immediate Authority? When you create a California Advance Health Care Directive, one important choice is when your agent’s authority begins. You can choose for your agent’s power to take effect immediately—or only after you lose the ability to make your own medical decisions. Many clients pause here, unsure…
