Organ Donation Through Facebook
According to organdonor.gov, currently 114,651 people are waiting for an organ, 18 people die each day waiting for an organ, and one organ donor can save up to eight lives. In order to solve this crisis, Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook want to make it easier for Facebook users to become organ donors. Facebook has created.. read more →
Did Mark Zuckerberg Have A Prenup?
This past weekend in Palo Alto, California, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg married his college sweetheart Priscilla Chan in front of about 100 guests in the couple’s backyard. The wedding was a surprise to the guests who thought they were attending a party to celebrate Chan’s recent graduation from UC San Francisco medical school. The lucky.. read more →
Planning With A GRAT
An effective estate planning method for transferring assets to family members with little to no gift tax consequences may be achieved through the use of a Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (a “GRAT”). What is a GRAT? A GRAT is an irrevocable trust established by a grantor (the creator of the GRAT) in accordance with Internal.. read more →
The Benefits Of A QPRT
QPRT is an acronym that stands for Qualified Personal Residence Trust. A QPRT is an irrevocable trust used as an estate planning technique to make a gift of a residence to family members at a reduced gift tax cost. The grantor of a QPRT (the person who creates the QPRT) may transfer a principal residence, another.. read more →
Preparing Your Estate Plan for Divorce
Approximately fifty percent of marriages end in divorce. A person contemplating divorce should review his or her assets and joint estate planning documents with his or her estate planning attorney to determine what may be done to legally protect the assets and “untangle” the joint plan. The goal for the person contemplating divorce is to.. read more →
Choosing A Trustee
What constitutes a good trustee? This is a question every person who creates a revocable living trust must consider when deciding who to designate to serve as successor trustees of the trust. The person creating the trust (known as the settlor) typically will serve as the initial trustee of the trust. When the settlor is.. read more →
Same Sex Marriage In California
Estate planning for same sex couples in California is challenging given the ever changing state law on what is considered a legal marriage in California and also due to the federal Defense of Marriage Act that does not recognize same sex marriage for federal law purposes. Proper estate planning for same sex couples who are.. read more →
“And They’re Off!” Pet Trusts for Horses
It’s Derby time! This means that it’s time once again to put on the fancy hat, mix-up the mint julep and watch 20 thoroughbreds compete for victory at Churchill Downs. Hopefully, the owners of these celebrated horses have properly planned their estates and have provided for the care and maintenance of their horses should something.. read more →
Amending Your Revocable Living Trust
Many people choose to have a revocable living trust as the center point of their estate plan. The revocable living trust contains instructions about how to manage your assets during your lifetime, after your death, and after the death of your spouse or significant other, if applicable. By choosing a revocable living trust as part.. read more →
Considerations When Adding Children On Title To Real Estate
Problem. Bob and Mary Smith are in their 70s. They want their eldest daughter, Darla, to assist them in managing their assets. So, Bob and Mary add Darla as a signatory on all of their bank and brokerage accounts and they add Darla on title (as a co-owner) to all of their real estate holdings. .. read more →