There is a lot to think about when going through a divorce in California. Since nearly everything earned or acquired during marriage is community property, couples need to inventory everything they have so they can split any community property equally. Determining how...
San Francisco Estate And Family Law Blog
Will, trusts and other estate planning documents
Creating an estate plan is important for adults in California because it can ensure that a person's assets go to the individuals chosen by that person. It can also ensure that dependents are cared for and that there are plans in place in case a person becomes...
How to mitigate the financial consequences of divorce
California estranged couples may experience negative financial and emotional consequences regardless of when they end their marriages. However, it may be more difficult to overcome the consequences of a divorce that occurs closer to retirement age. Therefore, it is...
The potential benefits of self-settled trusts
If you are looking for a way to retain control of assets and obtain estate tax advantages, you may want to consider a self-settled trust. With self-settled trusts, those who live or own property in California or other states can name themselves as the beneficiary to...
Preserve and protect credit during a divorce
Anyone going through a divorce hopes to emerge with the highest credit score possible since they may need that to find a new place to live and to generally begin again in life. However, California residents may find that things that happen during the divorce threaten...
Client Update: California Supreme Court Affirms the Standing of Disinherited Beneficiaries to Bring a Trust Contest in Probate Court
On January 23, 2020, the California Supreme Court issued a much-anticipated opinion affirming the standing of beneficiaries disinherited by a later trust amendment to challenge that amendment in probate court. The Supreme Court stated unequivocally that “when a...
San Francisco City Registered Domestic Partners Get a Tax Break
Property tax reassessments occur when a property changes ownership. There are exceptions for transfers between married couples, state registered domestic partners, transfers between parents and children and for other limited circumstances. For years, and even prior to...
Choosing a Trustee
A Successor Trustee should be exactly that – someone who will take over management of your Trust should you ever need and definitely someone whom you trust. When considering who you might want to choose, there are both practical and emotional considerations. The...
Horizons Foundation Event: 10th Annual State of the LGBTQ Movement
Johnston, Kinney & Zulaica LLP proudly supports Horizons Foundation and their event: 10th Annual State of the LGBTQ Movement. “Join national and international leaders of the LGBTQ movement for a discussion on where our movement is headed as we approach 2020....
Medicaid Qualifications
Medicaid is a health insurance program provided by the federal government through which individuals with limited financial resources receive assistance in paying some or all of their medical bills. Medi-Cal is the California state program, which provides Medicaid...