Life can throw some unexpected curve balls at you, catching you off guard and unprotected. A recession can drain your bank account, a surprise lawsuit can put your assets in peril, and a nasty divorce can split up more than just a family. This is why it’s so important to think about protecting your assets… Read More »
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Take Advantage of New Tax Act Opportunities
In December of last year President Obama signed the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 (the “Act”), which encompasses far more than its name would imply. For the past few months our office has been diligently researching the many ways this act might impact our clients, and what we’ve found… Read More »
Contemplations on Advanced Planning After the Recent Tucson Tragedy
Ever since the tragic shooting in Tucson earlier this month I’ve been thinking about Gabrielle Giffords and her family, as well as the other victims of the shooting. Thankfully, Ms. Giffords survived and by all accounts is making an amazing recovery. The most recent news reports that her condition has been updated from “serious” to… Read More »
Omission of Husband in Elizabeth Edwards’ Will is Not the Whole Story
Elizabeth Edwards was a thoughtful woman who always seemed sure of what she wanted, so when it was revealed earlier this month that her will left everything to her children, with no mention of her husband John Edwards, nobody doubted she knew exactly what she was doing. There has been no end of speculation in… Read More »
The Future of Estate Planning With the New 2011 Tax Laws
The passage last week of the bipartisan tax bill has many people breathing a huge sigh of relief. Not only is the tax uncertainty at an end, but the end result is beneficial to just about all American taxpayers, regardless of your wealth or the size of your estate. According to The Wall Street Journal,… Read More »
Fighting for the Dodgers, A Lesson in Pre- and Post- Marital Agreements
A story you may have seen in the news these past few months is that of Frank and Jaime McCourt; their very public divorce and their battle over ownership of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team. The couple, who had been married since 1979, bought the Dodgers franchise in early 2004, and shortly thereafter signed… Read More »
A Time for Giving
The holidays are upon us; a time for giving thanks, giving gifts, and giving to those less fortunate than ourselves. In honor of the season of giving I would like to share this article from USA Today about philanthropist Charlie Annenberg Weingarten, grandson of diplomat and media tycoon Walter Annenberg. Mr. Weingarten is the director… Read More »
Taxes and Estate Planning for Non-Traditional Couples
Marriage—and the rights and privileges it confers—is a hot topic in California right now, especially as pertains to gay marriage. But the truth is that anyone who pays taxes knows that marital status is always a hot topic, because when it comes to the state and federal government, marital status carries a lot of weight…. Read More »
Steinbeck Heirs Fight Over Copyright Ownership
“Intention, good or bad, is not enough.” –John Steinbeck, The Winter of Our Discontent The words of John Steinbeck, well-known author of books such as The Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men, and Cannery Row, seem to foreshadow the predicament his own heirs would be in decades after his death. This article from Reuters… Read More »
Tax Strategies for Financial Success… Even During Uncertain Times
2010 has been, without a doubt, one of the most unusual tax years in recent memory. Not only did Congress unexpectedly allow the lapse in estate tax, but they seem to be unable to come to any decisions about the future tax code. This lack of resolution has people reacting in one of two ways:… Read More »