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 moreDuring this time of year, the VA has generally required that veterans receiving certain benefits file an Eligibility Verification Report (EVR) annually; most veterans would be expecting their forms now. Failure to fill in and return the EVR ran the risk of kicking the veteran out of the payment system. However, the VA has announced … Read more
When Is a Couple Legally a Couple? California State Law Purposes Veterans Benefits Medi-Cal Income Tax This seems like such an easy question, but it isn’t. Why? Because it depends on for what issue one asks this question. And there are numerous issues for which one could ask this question. The most frequent areas for … Read more
VA Accreditation, Board Certification, Degrees, Designations– What Are These and Why Are They Important? Introduction The Potential Disaster VA Accreditation Board Certification Degrees & Designations What Should You Be Looking For? Introduction Attorneys and other professionals can sport many different titles, certifications, and letters after their name. When it comes to VA benefits to pay … Read more
Setting Your Child Up to be a Pigeon! Introduction The Problem Long Term Trusts Introduction: Ron inherited $1.5 million from his parents two years ago. He was an only child. At 25 he thought he thought he was on easy street. After all, he told himself, I’m a college graduate and have a good job … Read more
Will Your Power of Attorney for Your Mom Work with the VA? Dear Mr. Miller: My Mom signed a Power of Attorney for Financial Matters appointing me to handle her affairs. But I have been told that the VA will not work with me and that I cannot sign the VA Aid & Attendance Application … Read more
With the fiscal cliff finally upon us, it is time to review and renew your estate plan. For the last decade, estate taxes have been a limited factor in estate plans for the vast majority of families. With applicable exclusion amounts increasing steadily, fewer and fewer families were likely to be faced with the possibility … Read more
It has finally happened. I hope everyone had a joyous holiday season with their families. Now that the holidays are nearly over and done with, Congress has one more gift in mind. However, it is not a surprise. In just a few days, while we are celebrating the New Year, Congress will very likely be … Read more
When you create a revocable living trust, you designate trustees to handle the assets contained within the trust. In the majority of cases, you will name yourself (or yourself and your spouse) as the initial trustee. When doing so, your financial affairs suffer minimal obstruction since you will be the settlor, beneficiary, and trustee with … Read more
Last week a tragedy in sleepy Newtown, CT rocked the nation as a killer claimed the lives of 26 people in an elementary school, his mother, and himself. The sheer atrocity of the act has brought gun control and mental health to the forefront of political debate. It should be noted that the shooter has … Read more
I once heard a joke that went, “The last check you ever write should be to the undertaker and it should balance.” Of course, the joke is funny because doing so would be nearly impossible, if not irresponsible. Since it is impossible to know when you will die, it is impossible to know exactly how … 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...
