Do you owe far more on your Bay Area home or investment property than it is worth?  Have your payments consistently gone up while the value has gone down? Are you struggling to make the payments? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you face a huge choice:  Do you keep paying and […]

If you’re a business owner in today’s economy, you’re probably struggling to keep your doors open. During my years of practice, I have seen many down markets. While this one is pretty bad, the reaction to it is no different than the ones in the past. No one thinks they are going to survive, but […]

When meeting with a wills and trusts lawyer in Menlo Park for the first time, many adult children realize that they have no idea where their parents stand in terms of having the right plans in place to protect their assets and wishes if something happens to them. Do their parents have a will or […]

As an estate planning attorney in Menlo Park, I have unfortunately seen many circumstances where a person goes through the time and expense of having an estate plan done, only to fail to update their beneficiaries on their financial or retirement accounts before they pass away. An example of this would be Mary naming her […]

Trust administration in California is more complicated than many people realize. So, when deciding whom to name as your administrator, you may want to explore other options besides a close family member or your best friend. In my experience as a Menlo Park trust attorney, I’ve actually found that the best place to start is […]

If you have lost a loved one and are now attempting to close out their estate, we are sorry for your loss and we understand how frustrating the process can be. The steps to take after the loss a loved one can be overwhelming, but requesting a death certificate is a great place to get […]

If you invest in real estate, you need to know the rules regarding “dealer” status.  If you are classified as a dealer, you cannot take advantage of tax deferred exchanges.  Furthermore, your income from the sale of properties will be taxed at ordinary income tax rates instead of the more favorable capital gains rates.  Here […]

As a lawyer with extensive trust administration experience in San Mateo County, I have seen that the death of a loved one, particularly if the deceased is a spouse or parent, is one of the most difficult periods in a person’s life. At a time when the survivor is already struggling with loss and grief, […]

It is never pleasant when a business downturn requires you to lay off employees.  Particularly if you expect a turnaround, you may be thinking that a short-term furlough (working 4 days a week instead of 5) would be a better option for all parties: you get the needed cost reduction, and your employees aren’t completely […]

Wills and trusts lawyers in Menlo Park frequently get inquiries about arrangements for long-term care. Life expectancy continues to rise, due in part to more effective treatments for diseases previously thought to be terminal. This is great news, but with a larger elderly population, new dilemmas arise, including uncertainties related to assisted and rehab care […]