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 have devoted a fairly significant amount of space on this blog talking about the importance of avoiding disputes related to your estate plan. From the articles here and here, you should be clued in by now that lawsuits over inheritances are no fun. Johann Kaspar Lavater once said, “Never say you know a man … Read more
In my last article, I covered some of the common pitfalls of attempting to avoid probate by, primarily, placing property in joint tenancy. I’ve saved the biggest zingers for this article. One of the major problems with this method of avoiding probate is the lack of creditor protection. Although generally clients who wish to put … Read more
Often clients ask whether putting accounts in joint names will avoid probate. The answer is yes, of course, and many people seem satisfied with the response. From there, they put everything in both spouse’s names and, sometimes, add their children to their home deed, their bank accounts, and their brokerage accounts. However, there is a … Read more
The lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (generally called “ObamaCare”) has finally made it to the Supreme Court. Today, (3/28) in the third day of arguments, lawyers on both sides of the issue will discuss whether the expansion of Medicaid is within Congress’s power to mandate state spending. There … Read more
There are plenty of things that get better with time like fine wines and cheese. There are also plenty that do not necessarily improve with time: like unresolved family tension. These days, with the number of blended families, unresolved tensions lead to serious estate planning and administration problems. Even worse, the blended family issue can … Read more
Over the years of my practice I have seen the specter of death taxes weigh over my clients and drive their estate plans. A lot of people have been confused about what estate taxes are and what they mean. If you ask me, rightfully so! The world of estate tax has been extremely tumultuous over … Read more
The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard arguments in the case of Astrue vs. Capato. The basic facts of the case are as follows: Ms. Capato married rather late in life in 1999 to a man who, shortly after was diagnosed with cancer. Because his condition was expected to be fatal, as it worsened he used … Read more
Typos, juxtaposed letters, mis-punctuated sentences. If you have ever read the corrections section of a newspaper, you know that no one is infallible. Unfortunately, sometimes the same is true about your attorney. What do you do when your lawyer makes a mistake on your vital documents (pun intended)? To start off, an ounce of prevention … Read more
No, really. We’re serious this time. You have probably been told over and over to increase your retirement savings. Increased lifespans and higher costs of living have contributed to increased projections for what you actually need for retirement. More recently the retirement accounts of many Americans have taken a beating as a result of the … Read more
Selecting the Successor Trustee? More Difficult Than You Thought! Introduction The Job The Choices Family and Friends Trust Companies Negatives to Trust Companies Factors to Consider Who Can Help You Select a Trust Company Introduction: Bob and Lori were about to make an estate planning appointment with their attorney. They were discussing who should manage … 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.
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...
Dear Mr. Miller: My mother passed away recently, and I have been named the Successor Trustee of her trust. I expected to be sad after losing her, but ...
Dear Mr. Miller: About ten years ago, my husband and I paid an attorney to create a Living Trust. We signed all the documents and put them in a safe p...
