US Citizens Get a Big Tax Break That Non-citizens Do Not Get. Have a Non-US Citizen Spouse – If both partners of a married couple are US Citizens, then the first spouse to die can leave any amount of money to the survivor, and this is entirely free of the estate tax. This is called…
Changes to the HOA Election Process HOA Election Process – Senate Bill 323 introduces significant changes to the election process for residential common interest developments (HOAs). The critical changes include qualifications that must be placed on all the candidates seeking election for the HOA Board. This new legislation imposes one mandatory candidate qualification on all…
Senate Bill 652 Adds a new Civil Code Section 4706 to the Davis-Stirling Act and prohibits HOAs from banning religious items on entry doors or door frames, as long as the items do not exceed certain dimensions, does not interfere with the door function, and is not obscene or threatening public safety. The association may…
The following should be an “18th Birthday Present” to the parents and their kids, so they are secure. Every Young Adult Needs This Now – In most states, parents are without the authority of making health care decisions or managing money for their kids as soon as they turn 18. That means if a young…
New HOA Law New HOA Law – Gov. Gavin Newsom signed many bills into law affecting California HOAs in 2020. Here’s what associations need to know, and below, you’ll find one of them. Assembly Bill 5 is a significant new law that changes the legal definition of an employee. The law created Labor Code Section…
A Simple Will Can Do A simple will can accomplish a lot of your estate planning goals. It can leave all property to someone often your spouse or partner or if you’re single to your children or relatives, friends, or charities. A simple will can say what to do if that person dies first or…
What’s the Right Age to Start Looking for an Elder Law Attorney? Elder law clients tend to come in one of three forms. The first type is the client that’s in their late forties or early fifties when it’s much too soon for them to have an immediate concern about their long-term care, but they…
What is Probate of a Will? Probate of Will – Countries whose legal systems evolved from the British common law system, such as the United States, typically use the probate system for distributing property at death. Probate is a process where the decedent’s Will, if any, is entered in court. After hearing evidence from the…
Avoiding Probate Mediation and Avoiding Probate – Due to the time and expenses associated with the traditional probate process, estate planners frequently counsel clients to enact probate avoidance strategies. Some prevalent probate-avoidance plans include Revocable Living Trusts, Joint Ownership of Assets, and making lifetime gifts. If a Revocable Living Trust is used as a part…
A Simple Will Can Do A simple will can accomplish a lot of your estate planning goals. It can leave all property to someone often your spouse or partner or if you’re single to your children or to relatives, friends, or charities. A simple will can say what to do if that person dies first…