Archive for Cool Stuff
What Happens In Vegas….
Posted by: | CommentsIn the last couple of weeks, Karen and I had to travel to Las Vegas for a wedding. You may remember this is where Karen lived when we met. So, it wasn’t a quickie, drive thru chapel type wedding. It was a real bash! Karen was a bridesmaid for the first time in the U.S. so it was fun for her for several reasons.
The weekend away was also a nice way for us to have time away for a couple of days, as well.
Karen’s heart goes out to those animals not easily adoptable for whatever reason. She’s such a softie and would take them all if she could! So, now, we have two new additions to the family. Two solid black cats (can you believe that superstition makes these beautiful animals hard to new homes?). Their names are Marble and Puma ,and we love them already. We are holding our breath to see how well they are finally received by our other cats, Romeo and Harley.
On this note, if you have ever thought of having a Trust for your family pet, call us. California law allows you to leave a Trust to ensure money is available to provide care for your pet after your gone. It’s actually good planning if you love your pet like a member of the family!
Speaking of members of our household (smile), I want to remind you about our Client Care Membership program where we keep your documents and assets up to date so that your plan will work when it needs to with unlimited amendments. In addition, there are many bonuses we’ve recently added. For example, we have a new one called ClientDocX that allows you to store all of our estate planning documents on a secure server, and you can selectively give access to certain individuals (i.e., your agents, financial planner and CPA).
It can also maintain all of your financial documents and, if you choose, you can store all your passwords. We highly recommend this feature because, if a loved one becomes incapacitated, it makes it much easier to handle business. If you’d like to find out more about Client Care, call our office at 818.905.6088 or visit the Client Care section at www.estplan.com.
Until next time,
Gerry
What happens if I die without a will?
Posted by: | CommentsThis is the answer to that question on the State of California’s website:
If you are not married or in a registered domestic partnership, your assets will be distributed to your children or grandchildren, if you have any—or to your parents, sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews or other relatives. If your spouse or domestic partner dies before you, his or her relatives may also be entitled to some or all of your estate. Friends, a non-registered domestic partner or your favorite charities will receive nothing if you die without a will. The State of California is the beneficiary of your estate if you die intestate and you (and your deceased spouse or domestic partner) have no living relatives.
As there are so many variables associated with not having a will that means, for example, your spouse may only get 1/3 of your estate OR they may get all of it.
See me to get the full details for having your plans properly executed when your family needs them to work. Call me at 818.905.6088 or click here to book your own appointment.
Check to see if you qualify for one of the free appointments for planning that we reserve each month for new clients.
What are the general benefits for VA Aid and Attendance Benefits?
Posted by: | Comments2010 Maximum Pension Rates for Aid and Attendance
Single Veteran
$1,644.00 Per Month or $19,736.00 Per Year
Married Veteran
$1,949.00 Per Month or $23,396.00 Per Year
Widowed Spouse
$1,056.00 Per Month or $12,681.00 Per Year
Veteran Married to Veteran
$2,540.00 Per Month or $30,480.00 Per Year
To get more information about this little known benefit, please call our office. We may be able to assist you in getting these benefits by helping you navigate the sometimes confusing process to determine your eligibility.
