The death of Whitney Houston this past week in a California hotel was an occasion to mourn the singer's untimely death, and to remember how her soaring mezzo-soprano voice brought joy to the lives of millions. But at the same time many people wondered how much...
Focused And Personalized Attention Concerning Your Estate Planning Needs
Michael A. Sawamura, Attorney at Law
Consider the estate of affairs in your succession plan, part 2
Last week we discussed the importance of being proactive in developing a California estate plan to ensure that your wishes are carried out in the event of a sudden illness or accident. But that is merely the first step in the process. Executing a will and then...
Soul singer Etta James dies in California hospital
Legendary singer Etta James passed away on January 20, 2012, as she succumbed to complications due to leukemia. The world renowned singer--famous for songs such as "At Last" and "I'd Rather go Blind"--died at a Riverside, California hospital with her husband and two...
Consider the estate of affairs in your succession plan, part 1
Some very large estates have been divided in California courts. But sound estate planning is not just for Hollywood millionaires, titans of industry, and masters of the universe. Every person needs to lay out a detailed plan, so that when the time comes to dispose of...
Over half of Americans don’t have a will, estate planning
While we would all like to think we will live long enough to set up a will or complete some kind of estate planning, not everyone will make it that long. For those people in Sacramento who don't have their final wishes written down in a will, it is possible that all...
Too young to create a trust? Think again
Sacramento's young professionals may not think they are old enough or rich enough for estate planning, but that mistake could lead to years of heartache and strain for their relatives should an accident happen. For those young people who have taken the initiative to...
Michael Jackson still makes money, 18 months after his death
The death of Michael Jackson may have been a huge loss to the music world, but not even death could stop him, or his estate, from making money. Through clever estate administration, Jackson and his lawyers were able to secure a solid financial future for Jackson's...
Trust administration for California family winery ends up in court
Proper estate planning is very important for California families, as even when a trust is set up while an individual is still alive, legal matters can still arise. The heirs to a California winery are learning this after winding up in court over matters related to...
Man intentionally wills property, money to government
Most people go through the estate planning process to ensure that when they die, as much of their estate as possible escapes the clutches of Uncle Sam. However, in a case that California readers may find interesting, one Florida man chose to do the exact opposite....
Estate taxes may rise in 2013
One of the concerns that California residents have when they do estate planning is the effects of federal taxes on their estate. At the moment, estate taxes have an exemption amount of $5 million with a top marginal rate of 35 percent, but that exemption is set to...