Blog Posts in 2014
Posted on May 9, 2014 By Stephens Law Group, P.C.
Yes. According to her attorney, Mickey Rooney's widow just filed a contest of her late husband's Will, in the probate department of the Los Angeles Superior Court. The complete story can be ...
Continue reading "Did Mickey Rooney's widow really contest her late husband's Will?" »
Posted on Feb 7, 2014 By Stephens Law Group
Applying for a federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Tax Identification Number (TIN) is a free service offered by the Internal Revenue Service. Beware of websites that charge for this free ...
Continue reading "How can I obtain a Federal Tax ID Number (TIN or EIN) for a Trust?" »
Posted on Jan 31, 2014 By Stephens Law Group
In its most recent ruling about wills and trusts, the California Supreme Court in Donkin v. Donkin (December 26, 2013) ruled that a challenge to a Trust does not trigger the Trust's ...
Continue reading "California Supreme Court determines No-Contest Clause Unenforceable" »
Posted on Jan 24, 2014 By Stephens Law Group
The short answer? Yes (for some estates without a filing requirement). The slightly longer answer? The IRS recently issued Revenue Procedure 2014-18 which: "...provides a simplified method for ...
Continue reading "Will the IRS give me an extension of time to file my portability election?" »
Posted on Jan 17, 2014 By Stephens Law Group
No. Only a decedent's Will may be lodged with the Superior Court ( California Probate Code §8200 ). If you're still alive, the court will reject the document for filing. You're better ...
Continue reading "May I lodge my original Will with the Court for safekeeping?" »
Posted on Jan 10, 2014 By Stephens Law Group
According to California Probate Code §8200, the custodian of the original Will must, within 30 days after having knowledge of the death of the testator (that's the person who wrote the Will), ...
Continue reading "What should I do with the decedent's original Will?" »
Posted on Jan 3, 2014 By Stephens Law Group
The untimely deaths of some celebrities ( Paul Walker, James Gandolfini and Cory Monteith, to name a few) in 2013 underscore the need to create your estate plan now. So is one of your 2014 resolutions ...
Continue reading "Do your New Year's resolutions include estate planning?" »