Under California law, undue influence can be grounds to challenge the validity of a will or trust. A 2014 case from the California Court of Appeals illustrates the courts' power to void estate planning documents procured by undue influence. The case involved the third...
Focused And Personalized Attention Concerning Your Estate Planning Needs
Michael A. Sawamura, Attorney at Law
Does California have an estate or inheritance tax?
People who are starting the estate planning process often wonder about the potential estate or inheritance tax implications. For most individuals in California, this is no longer a major concern. California has no estate tax for individuals who died on or after...
Avoiding probate is a major goal of California estate planning
Probate is the court-supervised process of estate administration and property distribution after an individual dies. In California, probate can be a lengthy and expensive process. Legal fees - which are based on the size of the estate - and court costs can eat up a...
Creating a power of attorney to avoid legal battles
When blues legend B.B. King died last week he left behind a legacy of music that has influenced countless musicians in California and around the world. Unfortunately, he also left behind a brewing fight between his children and his business manager over the management...
A power of appointment can be a useful estate planning tool
Estate planning inevitably requires making some assumptions about the future. But none of us can clearly predict the circumstances and needs of our heirs long after we are gone. Fortunately, California law allows a testator to leave some asset distribution decisions...
Multi-generational estate plans present interesting challenges
People in California often want to plan for their own financial future as well as those of their living heirs, but those with significant assets may have an interest in thinking even further into the future. California residents who want to share their wealth with...
Estate planning as a vital community function
People who call the Sacramento area home know that a community is built one family at a time, and when people work together for mutual financial prosperity the community is strengthened. That is the philosophy of Michael Sawamura, who has made Sacramento his home and...
What is a pension “clawback” and can it affect you?
People in California who have worked for decades in order to ensure a healthy and prosperous retirement might be shocked to know that their pensions and retirement accounts might not be as safe as they had banked on. According to a recent AARP bulletin, pension...
An easy way to prepare for future medical issues
There are several important documents to consider when developing an estate plan. Arguably, one of the most important documents to consider might be the advanced health care directive. This document is essentially a document that spells out what a person's wishes...
Dean Smith uses trust to his heirs’ advantage
College basketball fans in California may have heard about the passing of legendary North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith earlier this year. His legacy as one of college basketball's greatest coaches was cemented, but after his death, tales of his generosity also...