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Blog Posts in 2013
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Posted on Dec 17, 2013 By Stephens Law Group
Dear Clients and Friends, Effective today, Tuesday, December 17, 2013, we've officially moved offices to our new location at The Ridge in Agoura Hills: Stephens Law Group 30200 Agoura Road, Suite ...
Continue reading "We're Moving" »
Posted on Dec 9, 2013 By Stephens Law Group
If the Trustee of a California Trust fails to send the required Notification by Trustee (also called a California Probate Code §16061.7 Notice ), or fails to properly serve the Notice on its ...
Continue reading "I'm a Trustee? What happens if I don't send a §16061.7 notice?" »
Posted on Dec 6, 2013 By Stephens Law Group
In most cases, California Probate Code §16061.7 requires that the Trustee send the Notification by Trustee within 60 days of the triggering event (usually the death of the Trust's Settlor). The ...
Continue reading "I'm a Trustee. How may days before I have to send the §16061.7 notice?" »
Posted on Dec 4, 2013 By Stephens Law Group
When the Trustee of a Trust is required to send a §16061.7 Notice (also called " Notification by Trustee "), according to California Probate Code §16061.7(g), it must include 5 ...
Continue reading "What information must a §16061.7 notice contain?" »
Posted on Nov 27, 2013 By Stephens Law Group
Under Section 16061.7 of the California Probate Code, certain Trustees are required to send a legal notice to the Trust's beneficiaries and other interested parties. In estate planning law, this is ...
Continue reading "What is a §16061.7 notice?" »
Posted on Nov 19, 2013 By Stephens Law Group
A good question. And the answer is quite simple. As used in estate planning law, the terms " Settlor ", " Trustor " and " Trustmaker " are all interchangeable. They all ...
Continue reading "What's the difference between a Settlor, Trustor, and Trustmaker?" »
Posted on Nov 14, 2013 By Stephens Law Group
Another good question from many of our California clients; and here's the answer: http://www.calbar.ca.gov/Public/Pamphlets/Seniors.aspx Seniors & the Law — A Guide for Maturing ...
Continue reading "Where can I get a free copy of "Seniors and the Law"?" »
Posted on Nov 11, 2013 By Stephens Law Group
A " Pour-over Will " is one that leaves your otherwise probatable assets to your Trust. But rarely will you see the words "Pour" or "Over" in the title of your Pour-Over ...
Continue reading "Is my Will a "Pour-Over" Will?" »
Posted on Nov 7, 2013 By Stephens Law Group
The IRS recently published Rev. Proc. 2013-35, which sets the inflation-adjusted exclusion amounts for 2014, for estate taxes and gift taxes. Estate Tax Exclusion Amount : For an estate of any ...
Continue reading "What are the inflation-adjusted 2014 estate and gift tax exclusion amounts?" »
Posted on Nov 4, 2013 By Stephens Law Group
The IRS recently released its new Form 706, U.S. Estate Tax Return, here: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f706.pdf Thanks to the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA), and its new $5.25 million ...
Continue reading ""Portability" - what's that got to do with the new 2013 IRS Estate Tax Return?" »
Posted on Nov 1, 2013 By Stephens Law Group
We get this question a lot. And the California State Bar Foundation (one of our favorite providers of free, easy-to-read consumer guides on many legal subjects) does a good job providing the answer: ...
Continue reading "Do I need a Living Trust?" »
Posted on Oct 29, 2013 By Stephens Law Group
Your Trust is a private document. It usually contains confidential information about you, your family, and even the people you're disinheriting. You probably don't want the bank knowing who will ...
Continue reading "Do I have to give a copy of my Trust to the bank?" »
Posted on Oct 21, 2013 By Stephens Law Group
When attorneys talk about "funding a Trust", they're talking about the process of transfering assets to the Trust. A Trust (sometimes called a Family Trust, Living Trust, or Revocable Trust) ...
Continue reading "What does it mean to "fund" a Trust?" »
Posted on Oct 14, 2013 By Stephens Law Group
Can the County Assessor reassess our property taxes, if all we did is change a joint tenancy to a tenancy-in-common? The short answer? Yes (according to at least one California court). The ...
Continue reading "Can the County reassess my property taxes like that?" »
Posted on Oct 7, 2013 By Stephens Law Group
A Trust is essentially a relationship, or contract, among three parties: A Settlor who creates the Trust; A Trustee who manages the Trust assets; and A Beneficiary who receives the Trust assets. ...
Continue reading "How does a Trust avoid probate?" »
Posted on Oct 3, 2013 By Stephens Law Group
Okay, pop quiz. Which of the following is the best definition of a "Trust"? A legal entity that holds title to your assets; The fiduciary relationship between a Trustee (legal title) and a ...
Continue reading "What is a Trust?" »
Posted on Oct 1, 2013 By Stephens Law Group
When you think about it, estate planning is the process of making decisions now so that other people don't have to guess what you want done later (at your incapacity or death). A good estate plan, at ...
Continue reading "Do I Need Estate Planning?" »
Posted on Sep 30, 2013 By Stephens Law Group
We get this question a lot. And the California State Bar Foundation (one of our favorite providers of free, easy-to-read consumer guides on many legal subjects) does a good job providing the answer: ...
Continue reading "Do I need a Will?" »
Posted on Sep 27, 2013 By Stephens Law Group
Question : Are probate and estate taxes the same thing? Answer : No, they have only one thing in common – they both occur after your death.Other than that, they really don't have much to do with ...
Continue reading "Are probate and estate taxes the same thing?" »
Posted on Sep 25, 2013 By Stephens Law Group
In California, probate court cases last about 1 year. But it's not unusual for it to take longer. Here's why: In most counties, it takes 4 to 8 weeks before the court will hear a Petition for Probate, ...
Continue reading "How long should a California probate case take?" »
Posted on Sep 24, 2013 By Stephens Law Group
You may have heard that Probate Court in California costs a bundle, but is it really that much? The short answer is: probably. Under California Law (CA Probate Code §§10800-10810 to be ...
Continue reading "Probate court costs how much?" »
Posted on Sep 23, 2013 By Stephens Law Group
Have you considered being an organ donor? You can share that you’re an organ donor on your Facebook timeline. Here's how: At your Facebook profile, click Life Event at the top of your timeline ...
Continue reading "Thinking About Organ Donation?" »
Posted on Sep 17, 2013 By Stephens Law Group
Every good estate plan includes some type of medical Power of Attorney or Advance Directive. This document appoints a "health care agent" to make medical decisions for you if you become ...
Continue reading "Making End-of-life medical decisions in California" »
Posted on Sep 16, 2013 By Stephens Law Group
Do you want your heirs to get along? An estate plan works best when every beneficiary knows in advance who'll inherit what, and why. It's important to tell your heirs, especially your adult children, ...
Continue reading "Want your heirs to get along? Speak with them." »
Posted on Sep 13, 2013 By Stephens Law Group
Are you looking for lost money? Believe it or not, you could be one of millions of Californians who is owed money by the State. The California State Controller's Office acquires hundreds of ...
Continue reading "Eureka! California's Unclaimed Property Law" »
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