Estate planning and, in particular, estate taxes remain a moving target. Here’s a recent article from the New York Times highlighting this problem.  I encourage you to check it out here. – John Palley

I am often asked to help walk a client through a trust certification form. Either for a re-fi on their mortgage or a new bank account. After filling out 25 of those, or more, one year I thought I would post it here to help my readers know exactly what is needed. This is a […]

It sometimes seems that the real estate transfer forms which are required in a California probate do not work together. This is true. There are multiple systems working together and thus problems persist. You have the Courts, the assessor’s office, and the recorder’s office. Let me explain each one: STEP ONE: The Inventory and Appraisal […]

I have had a couple of instances in the last few days where we have a new client where a house call will be in order.  The client, or their spouse or child, ask “why.”  They don’t want to spend the extra money for an attorney to go to their house. Let me explain the […]

Today I will be speaking to a group of paralegals at the Sheraton in downtown Sacramento on the probate process from start to finish. Here is a summary of the outline. If you want my full outline just ask and I’d be happy to share it!  -John HOW TO FILE AN ESTATE IN PROBATE COURT […]

I recently saw a link to this New York Times article on volunteer travel. It’s not cheap to travel around the world and help people but, for people that can afford it, I can not imagine a better way to plan for your family’s future! Here’s the article for your reading pleasure. LINK

If President Obama’s 2014 budget is any prediction of the future the 2013 “permanent” estate tax law changes are not very permanent. Or, put another way, only politicians would call them permanent!  I have read, in recent days, that President Obama is proposing going back to 2013 estate tax levels. That would mean a $3.5m […]

It’s been said many times that an estate plan is just that… a PLAN. Yes, it’s a group of form derived documents but, as I always say, it’s knowing WHICH FORMS to use. However, it’s more than that.  One of the fundamental keys to an estate plan is for the client to understand how the […]

I was asked to speak today to the Sacramento County Bar probate and family law joint meeting. That is, the monthly meetings normally take place separately. One for the probate/estate planning attorneys and one for the family/divorce attorneys. Today they met together.  With me, on the panel, were two divorce attorneys and a superior Court […]