Plain-spoken answers to the questions families ask us. These articles are educational material, not legal advice, and shouldn’t be relied on as legal counsel.
Many people’s family beliefs include charity as a basic tenet. Others may simply feel a social responsibility to aid and share with others. Many families undertake charitable activities together; many wealthy families create philanthropies that carry through several generations of serving others. I read an article recently that offered suggestions for raising charitable children.
This story, in a way, relates to what I do as an estate planning attorney. It’s my job to see that your wishes–and your directives–are legally, properly established so that when the time comes, they will be respected and carried out.
Every family has disagreements. Some famous families, like the Kardashians, Spellings, and Sheens, might see their trials and tribulations being shared in public, on almost every communication medium imaginable.
California lost a gracious philanthropist when Diane Disney Miller, Walt Disney’s last surviving daughter, passed away November 19th in the Napa Valley. It was her generous donation of $50 million that launched the building of the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the home of the LA Philharmonic. Mrs.
As the holiday season fast approaches, no doubt many of us are looking forward to family gatherings (and meals!). But on the flip side, there are probably many people who anticipate some tension at this time of year. Some divorced or re-married folks split up meals: dinner at one family home, dessert at another.
Michael Jackson’s unexpected death has had devastating effects on millions of fans all over the globe, but even more on his family. And now, legal issues are arising that may also devastate his estate.
You’ve just welcomed a new child into your family. This is one of the greatest changes to your life. If you’re like most people, you’ll wake up one night in a cold sweat because you’ve just realized what a huge responsibility it is to protect your child.
It is very common in California to create trusts, mostly because probate fees are very high here and it takes a long time for a probate estate to close.
It’s three a.m. The baby’s crying, you’re not sleeping, and the laundry baskets – all of them – are overflowing. Hey, this is the perfect time to start planning your estate! Seriously – becoming a parent is thrilling and you want to remember every moment (even if you don’t get to sleep much).
Kris and Bruce. Orlando and Miranda. No one is immune from a divorce, even celebrities. We share their pain, even at a distance. Families get shaken up, and lives change direction.
Recently, travel blogs and other media are posting that it is possible to inherit or use airline reward miles from someone who has died. Of course, some airline programs have explicit policies against this. But some do allow it, for a fee, which could range from nominal to pretty hefty.
Funeral planning can be a very personal thing, and depending how you do it, even a newsworthy event. The Infinity Burial Project (http://infinityburialproject.com) has developed a suit infused with mushroom spores and other organic flora that, after the burial, help facilitate decomposition and dispersal of toxins.