Civil Rights Act: Lessons from Politics and History
(Book Review: An Idea Whose Time Has Come, by Todd S. Purdum) Valley Lawyer, a publication of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association by Kira S. Masteller – June 2014
Retirement Planning for Same-Sex Married Couples
Trusts & Estate Planning Attorney by Kira S. Masteller 818.907.3244 In September, the Internal Revenue Service issued Revenue Ruling 2013-17 which clarified when, for federal tax purposes, the IRS will recognize same-sex marriages. As of
Understanding Conflicts of Interest in Estate Planning
Valley Lawyer, a publication of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association by Kira S. Masteller – September 2013
Maximizing Annual Gifts
Trusts & Estate Planning Attorney by Kira S. Masteller 818.907.3244 Individuals with estates that are valued over the Federal estate tax exemption ($5,250,000 in 2013) should consider making annual gifts to their family now so
How Does the DOMA Ruling Affect Estate Planning?
Trusts & Estate Planning Attorney by Kira S. Masteller 818.907.3244 The United States Supreme Court’s ruling on Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) on June 26, declaring the definition of marriage as
Post-DOMA for Employers
With the dust just settling on Wednesday’s ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, and Proposition 8 federal court opinions, now is the time for employers to consider the potential impact on their
Designated Beneficiary Assets: Consider Your Income, Capital Gains & Estate Taxes
Trusts & Estate Planning Attorney by Kira S. Masteller 818.907.3244 In the third segment of our series regarding Gift Tax & Estate Planning, we’ll examine assets that require designated beneficiaries, specifically: IRA accounts, retirement accounts, life
Using Life Insurance and Irrevocable Trusts in Estate Planning
Trusts & Estate Planning Attorney by Kira S. Masteller 818.907.3244 Continuing with Part 2 of our Gift Tax and Estate Planning blog series (we discussed Living Trusts in Part 1 of the series), we now
Why Online Legal Document Services Cause Future Problems in Estate Planning
Kira S. Masteller, of our Trusts & Estate Planning Practice Group, lists some of the many problems that may arise when using online legal services to plan for your family’s future.
A Living Trust – One of Many Tools for Protecting Your Estate
Trusts & Estate Planning Attorney by Kira S. Masteller 818.907.3244 A living trust is not the only vehicle that individuals need to consider when completing an estate plan. There are several other types of trusts