Articles Posted in Trusts

Imagine all the things you own—your car, your savings, maybe even a house. Right now, they belong to you, but have you ever thought about what happens to them if you’re not around anymore? Let’s dive into why setting up a living trust is a smart move.  What Happens to Your Things When You’re Not…

As someone who has worked with many people to plan their estates, I’ve learned something important: having a trust is crucial for everyone, and here are 4 Reasons Why Every American Needs a Trust.  1. A Trust Keeps Your Things Organized A trust is like a big box where you can keep all your important…

As an experienced estate planning attorney in Orange County, California I have witnessed firsthand the profound impact that conflicts over inheritances can have on families. It is heartbreaking to see hard-earned legacies torn apart by disputes and strained relationships among loved ones. Today, I want to address your concerns and shed light on the primary…

Once upon a time, in a small town nestled in the heart of Orange County, lived a loving and hardworking couple, Robert and Linda. Like many parents, they cherished their two little angels, Jack and Emily, more than anything in the world. They wanted nothing but the best for their children and worked diligently to…

A charitable lead trust (CLT) is a trust where assets are transferred to a trust for the benefit of a charitable entity.  The CLT then makes payments to one or more charities for fixed duration of time or for the lifetime of a selected individual.  When the CLT’s term ends, the remaining assets are transferred…

A Spousal Lifetime Access Trust or “SLAT” is a special type of irrevocable trust.  A SLAT is created by one spouse for the benefit of the other.  The spouse who creates the SLAT is referred to as the grantor and the spouse who receives gifts from the SLAT is referred to as the beneficiary spouse. …

An irrevocable trust is a type of trust that once created is not modifiable by the individual who created it (the “Grantor”).  In fact, this type of trust cannot be changed, amended, or terminated without the permission of the beneficiaries (the individuals or entities that receive, for example, money, property or other assets under the…

Did you know that it’s National Estate Planning Awareness Week?  In 2008, the U.S. Congress passed House Resolution 1499 designating the third week in October as National Estate Planning Awareness week.  According to Caring.com’s 2022 Wills Survey, over 66% of Americans believe that having an estate plan is important, but only 1 in 3 Americans…

The unlimited marital deduction is part of the United States Federal Estate and Gift Tax law.  The law allows married U.S. citizens to transfer an unlimited amount of property and money to their spouse at any time free of any taxation (both estate and gift taxes).  These spouse-to-spouse transfers are not taxed.  The largest transfers…

A revocable living trust is a type of trust that can be modified during the creator’s lifetime.  California residents commonly use revocable living trusts to: Name the individuals who will inherit your property (your “beneficiaries”). Avoid probate (a time consuming and expensive court proceedings where a judge determines who inherits your money and property). Avoid…