Advanced Estate Planning

California Estate Planning Laws and your Family – First in a Series: Bicycle Laws – California Vehicle Codes

When parents plan their estate distribution, it is almost always centered around the idea that they are going to make their children’s lives better.

All the parents’ hard work, legacy, morals, beliefs, and visions are for the benefit of the child to pass it along generation to generation.

The Slayer Statute

“Oh you are an Attorney, I have a question or two for you…?” July 4th BBQ’s and other social events are always a fun time to gather and talk to people you haven’t seen for awhile.  Some people talk about their kids, jobs, and vacations.  And then there are the others.  These people find out what you do for a living and then ask you law school finals questions.

Samuel Ledwitz Article in the Fontana Herald News

Let’s face it: Most of the general public is not what would be considered rich. But have you ever wondered how you would manage your money and your estate if you were a gazillionaire? Longtime estate planning attorney Samuel B. Ledwitz has. And he has some good financial tips in case the net worth of your estate grows quickly and excessively.

The Estate of the Musician Known as Prince

In December 2021, the estate of the musician known as Prince, The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Minnesota Department of Revenue (MDR), settled the valuation of Prince’s estate.  Prince’s music rights were the main point of contention –what is the day of death value of all of his songs and music rights?

A SHORT LIST FOR WHY TRUSTS ARE MORE ADVANTAGEOUS THAN A WILL

    1. A living trust brings all of your assets together under one single estate plan with ONE set of instructions. This arrangement makes your wishes easier to carry out. Trusts are designed to facilitate the distribution of your estate in that it will be simplified, unambiguous, and clear-cut. Provisions made to ensure the correct titling of your assets/beneficiary designations from your retirement savings plans and life insurance policies are given the highest priority. This preemptive action guards against legal contests and family squabbles that can easily erupt due to poor estate planning. 2. A clearly written and legally correct living trust is a private matter which is not obligated to be a part of the public record, plus they are not easily prone to litigation (as wills frequently are). Probate is a court supervised set of procedures that are mandated by law to be carried out in public. Disappointed or disinherited heirs are free to retain counsel to contest the validity of your will, and to call into question your state of mind when you signed/executed it. In addition, opportunists with varying motivations and self-interests can gain easy access to your family’s personal and financial information. This results in unnecessary expenses, animosity, and delays in settling your estate. Having a trust in place bypasses this very real possibility entirely. 3. A trust can help you avoid court interference should you become incapacitated. Any reasonable person would much rather have their long-term care and assets managed privately by those they know and trust. Without having appointed a trustee/attorney beforehand, the probate court must become involved and appoint a...