TO ALL DESERT CLIENTS OF CHRISTINE C. WEINER, ESQ. It is with nostalgia and fond memories, that I am announcing that I am closing my Desert office, effective August 31, 2023. Substantially all my Desert clients are being transferred to: NIKITA SONI, ESQ., of BROWNE and SONI. 74-900 Highway 111, Suite 121 Indian Wells, CA… Read More »
Posts Categorized: News and Current Events
New Tax Laws Explained
When Congress passed and President Barack Obama signed into law the American Taxpayer Relief Act in the first week of January — averting the so-called fiscal cliff — it made permanent the previous two years’ exclusions on estate and gift taxes. And those exclusions have been adjusted for inflation. As reported by Bloomberg, this means… Read More »
Tax Scams the IRS Wants You to Avoid—For Their Benefit and Your Own
The IRS recently released its “Dirty Dozen Tax Scams”, and some of the items on the list will be of particular interest to anyone concerned about asset protection. According to this article in NASDAQ.com, taxpayers should “exercise caution during tax season to protect themselves against a wide range of schemes ranging from identity theft to… Read More »
Donor-Advised Funds Make a Splash in Political and Private Circles
Mitt Romney has recently gotten a lot of press about the extent of his charitable giving—and the recipients of that giving. While his donations have been both praised and panned depending on the source, the fact is that whatever you think of Romney’s politics, there is a lot to be learned from how he and… Read More »
Death Preceded Fame—’Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ Author Had Invalid Will
Unless you don’t own a TV or use the internet, you’ve no doubt heard about “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” movie or read the book. If not, you’re missing some thrilling stuff. The author, Stieg Larsson, was a Swedish journalist who died in 2004 of a heart attack. He was not famous or rich… Read More »
It May Be Time To Add Members To Your Single Member LLC
I’ve written on this blog before about how useful a Limited Liability Company (LLC) can be when protecting your assets as well as Single Member LLCs. A single member LLC is simply an LLC with only one member. Originally an LLC designation was for companies with 2 or more members, but states gradually amended their… Read More »
George Clooney’s New Movie Offers Informative, Entertaining Look at Trusts
George Clooney is starring in a movie about a family trust. Yes, you read correctly. “The Descendants,” which opened in select theaters last month, offers a great depiction of what the Trust industry is all about. The film comes from the creators of “Sideways” and “About Schmidt.” It tells a humorous and tragic story of… Read More »
Protect Your Loved Ones From Elder Financial Abuse
As our parents and family members age, they may become unable to manage their financial affairs without assistance. Unfortunately, there are many people in the world who will target the elderly to exploit them financially. Elder financial abuse is a growing concern, and as we can see from this news story about French L’Oreal heiress… Read More »
Deadline Nears for Reporting Option That Applies to Many Large Estates
For once, it seems that the IRS did something to be helpful for families that want to preserve wealth. The Internal Revenue Service issued guidance back in August on the treatment of basis for certain estates of decedents who died in 2010. This guidance assists executors who are making the choice to opt out of… Read More »
When Unexpected Tragedies Occur
When unexpected tragedies occur, it can be a sad reminder to everyone that life is fleeting. The recent disaster at the Reno Air Show brought to mind that disasters such as these, that cause death and serious injury to others, do happen. In the case of this most recent aircraft disaster, there are 10 dead… Read More »