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What happens when a beneficiary dies?

When a Beneficiary Dies “When the RMS Titanic sank into the icy waters of the North Atlantic, one of the lesser-known problems it raised was how to handle the estates of married couples who refused to part as the ship went down. Several women chose to remain with their husbands on board the ship instead…

What is the gift and estate tax?

This is Part 1 in a two-part series about Transfer Taxes. In Part 2, I discuss what is the generation skipping transfer tax. Understanding the Estate and Gift Tax There are two types of federal taxes.  The first, and more well-known one, is called income tax. The second type of tax is known as transfer taxes. …

Should I Create an LLC?

This is Part 1 in a two-part series about LLCs. In Part 2, I cover how to setup an LLC to maximize asset protection. Why do People Create LLCs?  If you own a rental property, it is strongly advised that you create an LLC.  I’m going to give you 3 reasons why, but before that…

Buckle up and Beware of Cheap Estate Plans

Why are some estate plans more expensive than others? If this is your first time doing an estate plan, one question you are probably asking yourself is, “How much is a trust going to cost?” This is a reasonable question to ask. But it should not be the only question you ask. Instead, you should…

Prop 19 – What you need to know

PROP 19: REDUCE PROPERTY TAXES BEFORE FEBRUARY 16TH! Proposition 19 will affect each and every person who owns a property, whether it’s a primary residence, a vacation home, a rental property, or a commercial property. According to the new law, we have a limited window to take action in order to lock in our property taxes under the old…

Estate Planning Should Not be a Near-Death Experience

A New Era of Estate Planning in the Age of Covid-19 The spread of Covid-19 has caused a huge spike in the number of people looking to get their estate planning done immediately. This is not surprising given the number of people who have not done their estate plans yet. But what may be spreading…

“It isn’t possible to love and part”

‘It isn’t possible to love and part.’ In my last personal note from May 2019, I spoke of the Big Bad Wolf: “Here’s the thing.  We don’t know when the Big Bad Wolf will come to our doorstep, but we all know that he will come one day.  And when he does, we also know…

Understanding the Duties & Responsibilities of a Trustee

A trustee is a party responsible for the management, investment, and distribution of the property or assets within a trust. This will involve the oversight of trust administration, accounting, taxes, serving beneficiaries, and so on – in a manner that is impartial and transparent. It is encouraged to all our clients to select a professional…

Protecting Your Heirs’ Inheritance

A Checklist for Passing on Assets to Beneficiaries Maybe because it isn’t pleasant to consider our own mortality, it is oftentimes too easy to delay the creation and maintenance of our estate plans. Nevertheless, establishing your final wishes and intentions in a clearly stated and understood way through the legal documentation found in an estate…

Everything You Should Know About Trusts

A trust, simply put, is a fiduciary arrangement intended to help you manage your wealth and assets in accordance with your wishes in the event of your death or incapacitation. A trust allows a third party, or trustee, the legal authority to manage, maintain, and distribute assets directed by the contents of the trust or…

Families with Young Children: Estate Planning Considerations

“Our young children are our lives and our greatest blessings. They mean everything to us and everything we do is with them in mind. They are our past and future put together, and they reflect all of our hopes and dreams combined. As parents of little ones ourselves, we know full well the deep love…

How to Include Cryptocurrencies in your Estate Plan

The primary goal of your estate plan is the overall protection of wealth and assets in the event of your death or incapacitation. It ensures your assets may be distributed, as you see fit, through a will or trust agreement. However, in order to accomplish that goal, it is vital any and every asset is…

The Importance of Family Legacy Planning

At its heart, an estate plan is deciding what would happen to your property and wealth in the time following your incapacity or death. It identifies who you would like to manage your assets, the beneficiaries of said assets, and can establish your final wishes in regards to how those assets will be distributed. Estate…

Love, Marriage, & When to Update Your Estate Plan

Whether having recently married or you’re about to take the plunge, you more than likely have a lot on your mind. Wedding plans, family plans, and an entire lifetime together to think about. However, one thing you may not be thinking about is how your new marriage can and most certainly will affect your current…

The Opportunity of a Lifetime, Literally…

If you or your spouse are over 55 years old, there might be some big tax concerns you have when it comes to moving.  First, you’re worried about the large tax on capital gains. (But maybe you qualify for the $250K/$500K home sale exclusion).  Second, you probably bought your home at a lower price and if…

The Best and Worst Way to Own Your Property

PRIMARY HOMES If you are married and own a primary home, chances are you own it as either “joint tenants” (JT) or “community property with rights of survivorship” (CPWROS). Both are forms of joint ownership, so is there a difference? Oh yes!  A big difference. In California, you get what’s called a “step-up in basis”…

How Step-Up in Basis Works

The concept of step-up in basis is a staple in estate planning.  Planning decisions must take this concept into account, as the potential benefits of preserving step-up in basis for your heirs is tremendous. The step-up in basis is a method around paying capital gains taxes, which is a form of income tax. Generally, if…

The 2018 Tax Bill and what it Means for Estate Planning

BACKGROUND: There can be many reasons why you need a trust – but here are 2 of the most common. The first reason is to avoid probate. Probate is a court process that occurs after you die when you don’t have a trust, when your home, bank accounts, and all other assets will be held by…

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