Learning Library and Self-Help

On January 1, 2017, new legislation took effect which greatly restricts Medi-Cal recovery. For MediCal recipients who die on or after January 1, 2017, recovery is now largely limited to only those assets subject to California Probate administration. Under the old law, the only way to avoid recove...

The Revocable Transfer on Death Deed: are Trusts a thing of the Past? The California legislator enacts thousands of laws each year. On January 1, 2016, Assembly Bill 139 became the law, known as the Transfer on Death Deed, which allows a property owner to name a Transfer on Death Beneficiary for ...

It is difficult to estimate with certainty how much it will cost to settle one's estates or how quickly expenses and taxes must be paid. Insufficiency of cash can be created by a number of expenses, such as: federal and state taxes, probate or trust administration costs and attorneys' fees, credi...

Consider including pet care provisions in your estate plan – set aside sufficient funds to be put in carefully selected hands to take care of your service or companion animals. If you own a horse, or an animal with long life expectancy, you may need more sophisticated planning, including a stand-...

While owning property in joint tenancy does avoid probate, this estate planning method comes with certain negative tax consequences. Transfers in joint tenancy expose those assets to the joint tenant's debts and creditors, creates a gift tax liability when granted to a non-spouse, disinherit chil...

Estate Planning During a Pending Divorce To protect the rights of each spouse during a dissolution or legal separation, and to preserve the financial status quo, Family Code § 2040 imposes Automatic Temporary Restraining Orders (known as ATROs) on both parties which come into effect the moment a ...

Pre-Death Planning determines the cost, length, and efficiency of Post-Death Administration. A common misconception is that having only a Will is sufficient estate planning. Although a Will does name someone in charge of the estate and provides directions on post-death division of assets, it does...

What Is Property Tax Reassessment Exclusion? Real property that is not entitled to special exemption is valued at the base-year value determined under Proposition 13 guidelines, adjusted for inflation. As provided in Article XIIIA of the CA Constitution, the property tax rate is generally 1% of a...