6 minute read
Health & Beauty
By Todd W. Moeller
Do you want to avoid making critical estate planning mistakes? The following are mistakes that occur all too frequently: 1. Purchasing one size fits all (i.e., canned) estate planning documents online or through a trust mill. These are of little or no value. Real value is created through sound legal advice about the structure and essential provisions concerning estate planning documents. 2. Neglecting to fully fund your living trust. Far too often, this equates to Probate. 3. Failing to file current beneficiary designations for life insurance and retirement plans and/or not designating alternate beneficiaries. If this occurs, probate is often the result. 4. Failing to regularly review your trust and seek sound legal advice.
For example, I spoke with a gentleman who wanted to know how he could ensure that his son received his condo when he died. He said he and his wife had a trust which passed everything to him when she died. She died over 13 years ago. Turns out, he was incorrect. Their trust required the surviving spouse to set up an irrevocable trust funded with one-half of their estate when either of them died. He did not do so because he told me that he never reviewed their trust after it was in place nor did he contact his attorney after his wife passed away. As a result, he has limited expensive options to repair the damage.
If you or someone you know are facing difficult estate planning decisions, please contact my office and make an appointment to discuss effective estate planning strategies.
If you have questions concerning your existing estate plan or setting up an estate plan, please contact Todd W. Moeller at (925) 301-8840 or www.Todd@ MoellerEstateLaw.com.
Disclaimer: The information presented in this advertisement is provided for general information only. Todd W. Moeller is licensed to practice law in the State of California only, and any information contained in this advertisement is based on general principles of California law. The information presented should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of an attorney-client relationship. – Advertisement
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There’s plenty to be thankful for this year
Perhaps I speak for a lot of us when I say New Year’s Eve has a whole new meaning this year. Instead of singing “Auld Lang Syne,” perhaps we play Nat King Cole and Natalie Cole’s fantastic version of “Unforgettable.” Although she was just a child when
Senior Corner her dad passed away, producers played a video of him singing posthumously as she sang her part on stage. It was a beautiful rendition and extremely touching to watch. After she died
Marla the song remained luCkhardt a favorite of fans around the world.
There have been lots of jokes about staying up until midnight to make sure 2020 is really over! I doubt that Grandpa and I will be up much past the ball dropping in New York City but even that celebration this year will be quite different. Sorry Ryan Seacrest.
Forever the hippie Pollyanna, I choose to remember some joyful parts of this year, without forgetting the enormous issues and problems we are still facing. I am so very grateful for my love, my best friend and my soulmate, Grandpa, who for the last 38plus years has been by my side and putting up with my goofy idea of living this life we have together. We have laughed more this year than ever before since we are in this together just about 24/7. He has always made me giggle, and this year I consider that a gift that keeps on giving.
The phone rings a little more often this year. People checking in and saying hello. Texts, emails and messages on Facebook are aplenty, and every day I look forward to seeing who is doing what to occupy their time as we go through this incredible time. Seniors who are retired are finding ways to communicate with others that perhaps were too busy to reach out in recent years. Some have told me of getting back into some exercise or hobbies that had gone by the wayside.
My ritual each morning starts with checking my email and calling my friend, Karen, in Nevada. We usually chat for about an hour and although not a lot has really changed much in our lives on a daily basis, we always have a lot to talk about each day. Then Grandpa and I do our video of a famous singer, and before you know it, the day is more than half over and it’s time to start the “what’s for dinner” conversation. Cooking for me has always been a pleasant necessity and not really a passion. I don’t bake as that ship not only sailed a long time ago, it sank! But for the last ten months, we have managed to eat and survive both my cooking and the repetition of most of my gourmet delights. That’s another thing I am grateful for in 2020: Grandpa’s acceptance of redundancy in the meal department without complaints.
Although Christmas Eve this year was quiet and the family did not gather here like they always have for the past 35 years, we were able to Zoom with them and say our hellos. My oldest granddaughter, Tiffany, arranged the meeting and it was great to see them smiling on my computer screen. Our oldest grandson, Justin, is here from Germany where he has lived for the past few years, and he started us off
see Year page 7
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