Online resource center to help you explore these key issues, and others, regarding your estate.
Mr. Miller has many years of experience in designing and implementing a comprehensive variety of Trusts, Wills, and other estate planning documents, as well as settling estates in the most expedient and appropriate method. Further, he counsels and assists clients on becoming eligible for VA benefits and Medi-Cal.
Learn moreMr. Miller has been active in the area of VA Pension and Medi-Cal for well over a decade. He uses various specialized types of Trusts as well as non-trust strategies to gain eligibility for his clients and save the family money.
Learn moreMr. Miller has been settling estates (both simple and complex) for well over 40 years. The starting point is always to create a strategy to settle the estate in the most efficient manner possible with a minimum of taxes. Often times the strategy created allows the family to bypass Probate Court proceedings.
Learn moreI hope you had a great Thanksgiving. Getting together with family and friends is always great. As another year draws nearer to a close and we have experienced the Thanksgiving holiday and its expression of gratitude for the things in our life, large and small, that bring us joy, I would like to take the … Read more
With the troubled economic times we have faced, many people believe that estate planning will be unnecessary. They offer reasons, such as “My house is under water so there will be nothing left,” or “I don’t have an estate.” Especially savvy legal consumers might say, “My estate is worth less than $150,000 so no probate … Read more
Over the weekend “Frankenstorm,” also known as Hurricane Sandy after it merged with a Nor’easter ravaged the east coast and much of the Midwest with high winds, a lot of rain, snow, and sleet. Because so many San Diego residents are transplants, chances are good that you or someone you know is in the densely … Read more
Gifting with the Ability to Get It Back Introduction Tax Exemption Clawback The Dilemma Irrevocable Trust Gift and Death Tax Result Step Up in Basis Conclusion Dear Mr. Miller: I know there is a $5 million dollar gift tax exemption right now and that it goes away come January 2013. I am single and have … Read more
There are only two full months remaining in the year before a huge increase in the federal estate and gift tax is set to be imposed. Depending on the size of your estate, you may want to consider estate planning and gifting strategies immediately in order to take advantage of the current rates. Right now, … Read more
When you create an Advance Healthcare Directive (AHCD) as part of your complete estate plan, you are often asked to imagine the unimaginable. Some attorneys will give you several options for end of life decisions, such as preserving your life as long as possible at one end of the spectrum and denying all attempts to … Read more
So you have decided to create an estate plan, but you are unsure how to choose an appropriate estate planning attorney. To be sure, there is no shortage of options in Southern California and many potential clients will choose an attorney based on one factor: price. However, as with any industry, some attorneys are better … Read more
Often when a parent or loved one loses capacity, someone in the family takes control over the incapacitated person’s financial or medical decisions. When the incapacitated person has done proper estate planning in advance, the person who takes over is named in the estate planning documents, such as a Financial Power of Attorney, Trust, or … Read more
As the nation moves rapidly toward what is commonly known as “the fiscal cliff,” when a slew of automatic budget cuts and increased tax rates take effect simultaneously (January 1, 2013), many are wondering if Congress will be able to come together before their pending deadline. The fiscal cliff was initially created largely due to … Read more
The law, the markets, your family, and politics are in a more or less constant state of flux. Chances are, you have a team of financial professionals to help you deal with these constant changes, and don’t even think about it! As you work with your tax and financial planners, usually annually, consider including your … Read more
About Living Trusts is hosted by the Law Offices of Merwyn J. Miller, as your online resource center to help you explore these key issues, and others, regarding your estate.
Part One: What Is Fair? Dear Mr. Miller: I have three adult children and am struggling with how to divide my estate. My oldest daughter has done very ...
Dear Mr. Miller: My husband and I recently completed our estate planning. We now have a Living Trust, Wills, Powers of Attorney and other documents. O...
Dear Mr. Miller: My mother is 82 and still lives alone. Over the last year, she has become noticeably more forgetful. She repeats stories, sometimes f...
