Estate Planning

Dear Mr. Miller: I have inherited a house from my Aunt.   The house is in the California Central Valley and is worth about $700,000.   My Aunt also had bank accounts of $300,000 and securities of $400,000.  Several months before she died, she gave me a copy of the deed to the house.  It was titled  … Read more

Dear Mr. Miller: I want to change my Dad’s Trust.  We have debts up the wazoo.  My husband couldn’t control himself at the gambling table and the overall bill is now $300,000 or so.  My Dad’s Trust leaves one half to me and the other half to my brother.  My Dad’s estate is about $2  … Read more

Dear Mr. Miller: I’m in my 90s now.  I’m proud to say that I am worth $4 million.  I’ve had a Trust for years.  I have two kids, a boy and girl.  They are both doing fine but the girl is doing spectacularly well, financially.  She really doesn’t need anything from me in an inheritance.   … Read more

Dear Mr. Miller: My Mom is in a skilled nursing facility in California. Not only is her memory completely shot, she really has no idea which way is up. She has about $4 million in the bank. Further, she has several pensions that are paying the bills, so the $4 million just keeps on growing.  … Read more

Dear Mr. Miller: I’m a senior living in Southern California.  I have a house and $500,000 divided pretty equally between cash and securities.  I have two kids.   I don’t yet have a Will or a Living Trust and know that I should have one.   I can get one online for $350-450.  With an attorney it  … Read more

Dear Mr. Miller: My Dad has a really small estate and does have a Will.  He lives in one of the rural counties of California.  But my brother is telling me that if he doesn’t have a Living Trust we will have to go through Probate and will lose all our inheritance to the courts.   … Read more