Have you not put any thought into estate planning? It may be due to thinking that you don’t have many assets, or that you simply won’t have to deal with problems when they come up. At the very least, it’s important to have a basic will to help prevent the following two problems that will come up after you pass away.
Dividing Assets
Many people assume that they don’t need to create their will early on in their life, because all assets from a deceased spouse will automatically go to their partner. Read More»
When you are planning your estate, you may want to consider leaving some of your assets in an irrevocable trust. Trusts are designed for many purposes, two of which include reducing taxes and protecting your property. While there are dozens of irrevocable trusts to choose from, the following are some of the most commonly used in estate planning:
Bypass Trust
One way for a spouse to reduce the amount of estate taxes owed when the other spouse passes away uses a bypass trust. Read More»
The security deposit for your property is just that, a deposit to cover any damages occurred during the time you rented the property from the landlord. It cannot be used to cover the last month’s rent unless the landlord is in agreement. If the landlord refuses to return the deposit, you need to pursue the issue.
Does The Tenant Have To Pay For Normal Wear and Tear?
Your security deposit cannot be withheld for what is considered normal wear and tear on items in the dwelling including walls that need repainting or have chipped spots, or wooden floor finishes. Read More»
What happens when you serve a notice of unlawful detainer on a non-paying tenant and find out, to your dismay, that there are other people living there that aren’t on the lease? It might be the actual tenant’s boyfriend or girlfriend, or just someone that your tenant found on a Craigslist ad to split the rent. Unfortunately, this can complicate your situation. Here’s what you should know.
If the non-tenants refuse to leave, you can’t throw them out. Read More»
Losing a loved one is a stressful situation; this time is made even more stressful when those left behind are faced with the disposition of the estate. If you feel that your loved one passed away and left behind an estate with disposition instructions that were not in keeping with how the estate should be divided, there are three things you can do to contest the will and get the estate sent through probate. Read More»
Regardless of whether you are a first-time buyer or have purchased in the past, it is important to be careful when shopping for a new home. There are many missteps that can prove costly in the long run. If you are in the market for a new home, here are some mistakes to avoid and what steps you can take.
Failing to Research the Property
Ideally, once you sign a purchase contract with the homeowner, everything will proceed smoothly until closing. Read More»
