A will is a good estate planning tool. Any couple or individual with financial investments and assets will benefit from having one.
A simple will is probably all you need if most of your assets can be transferred through a beneficiary designation of joint tenancy. However, if you own real property, even with a will, your estate will need to be probated.
If you have children, you can insert a trust into your will, which will become effective at the time of your death. It can be used to provide for your children. There are advantages and disadvantages to both a living trust and a simple will.
If you are interested in creating a will and have questions about how to start, contact an experienced Riverside Estate Planning attorney who will help you in creating a will to protect your financial interests and your loved ones later on.
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The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department arrested two Coachella Valley men on sex-offense-related warrants.
One man was arrested on a felony warrant for lewd and lascivious acts with a child. He was booked into the jail in Banning where he posted $50,000 bail. The other was arrested on a felony warrant for failing to register as a sex offender. He was booked into the county jail in Indio where he is being held in lieu of $1 million bail.
People charged with sex-offense-related crimes face severe consequences and a conviction carries long sentences and life-long registration.
Being accused of a sex crime can be embarrassing and being convicted can be far worse than embarrassing. If you are charged with a sex-offense-related crime, contact an experienced Riverside Criminal Law attorney who will fight to help you avoid lifetime registration as a sex offender and avoid a prison sentence.
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Choosing one of your children to be the executor of your Will can rip your family apart.
In case you didn’t realize it, an executor, or one of your children, is put into a position of power. This position allows them to divide your assets in a way that might not be agreeable to his or her siblings. They might become bitter towards each other – it’s paving the way to family feuds.
What happens when one child goes into the house alone and takes things he or she might want, such as family heirlooms, photos or collectibles? One child might believe they are entitled to more than another. The term ‘fair and equitable’ is different for each of your beneficiaries.
In order to avoid a family war, your best bet is to appoint an executor who is not also a beneficiary of your will and is not emotionally invested in one of your children. Protect your family and allow your children to grieve for you. Contact an experienced Riverside Estate Planning attorney who will help you make sure your assets are divided the way you want them to be.
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If you have decided that creating an estate plan would be in your best interests, but do not know what is included in this plan, it is time to contact an experienced Riverside Estate Planning attorney who will sit down with you and discuss what is involved.
A Will provides for those you choose as your heirs to receive your property after your death. It is important to have a financial durable power of attorney to make financial decisions for you if you are unable to do so because of illness or whatever reason. In addition, a health care power of attorney is a document that appoints an agent to make health care decisions for you if you are unable to do so. Finally, a health care directive, or living will, gives you the opportunity to direct what kind of health care you wish to receive if you are terminally ill or in a permanent coma.
Creating an estate plan can be complex and complicated. It would be wise for you to consult with a Riverside Estate Planning attorney who will help you decide what is best for you now and in the future.
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\\ tags: assets, attorney, children, Estate Planning, family members, Health care, property, Will
During the Christmas holidays, many children received toys for gifts. Unfortunately, many of those toys will prove to be toxic and/or defective and have the possibility of injuring your child. In addition, many can pose serious choking hazards, hearing damage and lead poisoning, which can result in irreversible brain damage.
Consumer advocates at the U. S. Public Interest Research Group have released a list of toys that can prove to be dangerous and/or defective. They violate Federal safety standards for lead and other hazardous chemicals.
Examples of these dangerous toys include, but are not limited to:
· Sesame Street brand Oscar doll
· Wooden blocks
· Little Hands Love Book
· Whirly wheel by LL
· Disney’s Tinkerbell Watch
If your child received one of these toxic and/or dangerous toys and has shown sign of injury or illness, contact an experienced Riverside Personal Injury attorney who has been successful in product liability cases and will investigate your case to determine if you are entitled to compensation for your injuries and medical expenses.
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\\ tags: attorney, children, choking hazards, consumers, Defective products, illness, manufacturers, Personal Injury, toxic toys
Leaving your assets to a trust for the benefit of your spouse or children is another option than leaving simply a will. The trust could be created as part of your will.
This type of trust is known as a Credit Shelter Trust. It allows a married investor to avoid estate taxes when passing assets to his or her heirs. Upon the death of the investor, the assets in the trust are transferred to the heirs. A key benefit is that the surviving spouse maintains the right to the trust assets and the income generated. This allows a married couple to double the amount they can leave free of California and Federal estate taxes.
Having assets in a trust can be used to ensure a later inheritance by others even if the surviving spouse remarries. This is extremely important if your current spouse is not the parent of your children.
To learn more about a credit shelter trust, contact an experienced Riverside Estate Planning attorney who can answer all of your questions and advise you of your best options for estate planning.
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\\ tags: assets, attorney, benefits, children, Credit Shelter Trust, Estate Planning, heirs, income, spouse
Last year the Riverside County Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance 902, which established sex offender residency and loitering prohibitions for the unincorporated areas of Riverside County.
This year, the Board has amended the Ordinance to specify time, place and manner restrictions on sex offenders on October 31, Halloween. The amendment reads, in part, “A registered sex offender would be prohibited from decorating their dwelling with Halloween decorations, that they will leave all exterior residential, decorative and ornamental lighting off at the dwelling during the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 11:59 p.m. and that they are prohibited from answering the door to children who are trick-or-treating.”
Any registered sex offender found in violation of Ordinance 902 and its amendment, will be found guilty of a misdemeanor offense and subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000 and/or six months in jail. The Sheriff’s Department is working with others to make sure children are protected on Halloween and that they enjoy their trick-or-treating safely.
If you are a registered sex offender and are found in violation of this Ordinance, you will be facing severe consequences. Contact an experienced Riverside Criminal Law attorney who will discuss your legal options with you and aggressively represent your interests.
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\\ tags: attorney, children, Criminal Law, Halloween, jail, misdemeanor offense, Ordinance 902, parents, Riverside County Board of Supervisors, sex offenders
Creating an estate plan for a newly married couple depends on several factors which include if this is the first marriage for one or both of you, assets brought into the marriage, children from a previous marriage and if you have written a prenuptial agreement.
A young couple married for the first time with no children and little assets should at least start off with a Will. Later on they can create an Advance Health Care Directive and appoint a Financial Power of Attorney.
Once your family grows along with your assets, your Will should be revised and discussed further. If you are newly married, just starting out, but want to tie up any loose ends, contact an experienced Riverside Estate Planning attorney who will make sure all of your wishes and needs are met down the road.
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\\ tags: Advance Health Care Directive, assets, attorney, beneficiary, children, Estate Planning, Financial Power of Attorney, marriage, newlyweds, trustee, Will
As parents get older, children must decide the best way to care for an aging parent; it requires a lot of thought and planning. The first step in proper elder care is to anticipate their emotional, physical and mental well-being.
When you begin planning for elder care, let your parent be involved in the decision making. See what he or she wants. Listen to their ideas on health care and assisted living. Many seniors are lonely so keep their emotional needs in mind when planning for future care.
Make sure your elder is in a safe environment whether he or she is living at home or in an assisted living facility. Make the living space senior friendly” in order to prevent falls that could cause serious injuries.
If your senior person has dementia or Alzheimer’s, make sure someone is giving them their medication. It is not easy taking care of an elderly person; try to adapt to their growing needs or find a professional who can.
Make your elderly care plan before a medical crisis occurs. When an individual transitions from independence to dependence health care, estate planning issues arise. Don’t wait for a crisis to happen to make your plans; do it now. If you need assistance, contact an experienced Riverside Estate Planning attorney who will be able to answer all of your questions and put you on the right path for you and your parent.
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Some of my clients have asked me, “What is involved in estate planning?” Before sitting down to plan your estate, make a list and include:
· Who you want to receive your assets – the beneficiary or beneficiaries?
· List your assets and what you think they are worth
· Who do you want to manage your estate or make decisions on your behalf if you cannot during your lifetime or once you have died?
· Do you have minor children – who should take care of them?
· Where do you want to be laid to rest – buried or ashes scattered – where?
Once you have answered the questions, contact an experienced Riverside Estate Planning attorney for advice on how to proceed, and determine what your next steps should be.
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\\ tags: assets, attorney, beneficiary, burial, children, Estate Planning, family members, Healthcare, property
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