858.792.5988

Serving San Diego for over 35 Years

Clients, Colleagues, and Friends,

I retired on Dec. 31, 2019, and officially closed my office, after 42 years of practicing law. I thank you all for your confidence in me and your friendship over the years. My colleague David Dufek who has shared the suite with me for the past two years is taking over my practice and will have all client files. Not only will David be taking over the practice, he remains in the suite and is taking over my fax and phone lines. You are free to leave your files with David or pick them up. David's practice like mine includes will, trusts, and probate, as well as personal injury work. He also does landlord - tenant work and debtor - creditor matters including bankruptcy.

I wish you all the best.

Alex

7 Things You Need to Know about Your Estate Plan

Here is a list of 7 things our clients often haven’t realized, before they walked into our office.  But, thanks to our discussions and a comprehensive estate plan, our clients are now on the right track.  Check out this list of 7 things you need to know (but may not know) about your estate plan.  If any of these issues on the list pique your interest and you say to yourself, “I didn’t know that!” call our office for a consultation.

  1. Probate fees can be avoided, and settlement costs can be significantly reduced, if you plan ahead.
  2. Your estate plan needs to be updated on a regular basis, if you want it to work.
  3. If you’re new to California, you need to have your old estate plan professionally reviewed.  Your old plan may no longer work the way you want it to.
  4. You need to name contingent trusted helpers (i.e. executors, power of attorney agents, guardians, and trustees) in your estate plan.
  5. Your will doesn’t control your life insurance, retirement plans, or annuities.
  6. Your trust must be funded, meaning your assets have to have either or both the title and beneficiary designation changed to the name of your trust.  (Caveat:  NEVER change the title of your retirement assets; changing the title on qualified assets is deemed a distribution and accelerates all of the income taxes due.  Also discuss naming your trust as the beneficiary of any 401k, IRA, or any other type of pension plan, with a qualified person).
  7. If you fail to name an individual (or trust) as beneficiary of your life insurance policy or if you name your estate as the beneficiary, your life insurance will go through probate.

If you already knew these 7 estate planning things and you have a comprehensive, up-to-date estate plan, great.  If not, call our office now at 858-792-5988 for a consultation.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Here is a list of 7 things our clients often haven’t realized, before they walked into our office.  But, thanks to our discussions and a comprehensive estate plan, our clients are now on the right track.  Check out this list of 7 things you need to know (but may not know) about your estate plan.  If any of these issues on the list pique your interest and you say to yourself, “I didn’t know that!” call our office for a consultation. 

1.       Probate fees can be avoided, and settlement costs can be significantly reduced, if you plan ahead. 

2.       Your estate plan needs to be updated on a regular basis, if you want it to work.

3.       If you’re new to California, you need to have your old estate plan professionally reviewed.  Your old plan may no longer work the way you want it to.

4.       You need to name contingent trusted helpers (i.e. executors, power of attorney agents, guardians, and trustees) in your estate plan.

5.       Your will doesn’t control your life insurance, retirement plans, or annuities. 

6.       Your trust must be funded, meaning your assets have to have either or both the title and beneficiary designation changed to the name of your trust.  (Caveat:  NEVER change the title of your retirement assets; changing the title on qualified assets is deemed a distribution and accelerates all of the income taxes due.  Also discuss naming your trust as the beneficiary of any 401k, IRA, or any other type of pension plan, with a qualified person).

7.       If you fail to name an individual (or trust) as beneficiary of your life insurance policy or if you name your estate as the beneficiary, your life insurance will go through probate. 

If you already knew these 7 estate planning things and you have a comprehensive, up-to-date estate plan, great.  If not, call our office now for a consultation.  We look forward to hearing from you.