Category Archives: Estate Planning

Can I Avoid Probate of My House by Holding It in Joint Tenancy?

Posted on October 12, 2011 by Roger Billings

  Joint tenancy might be a convenient estate planning shortcut, but it also brings some undesirable risks. Joint tenancy is a form of ownership of property where two or more people hold title to the property with right of survivorship, … Continue reading →






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Business Succession Lesson from the Oakland Raiders

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Roger Billings

  The death of renegade owner Al Davis leaves the Raider Nation looking for future direction. A big question is how to pay estate taxes. Family owned businesses can learn from the Raiders’ challenges, even though most are not large … Continue reading →






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What Is So Bad About Probate and Why Should It Be Avoided? – Estate Planning Basics

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Roger Billings

  Again it is time to get back to basics. Avoiding probate is a primary reason to set up a living trust instead of a will . There are several reasons to avoid probate, and in California particularly the reasons … Continue reading →






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Will Assisted Living Expenses Eat Up My Estate?

Posted on September 27, 2011 by Roger Billings

  Will assisted living expenses eat up my estate? That question is often on the minds of retired couples doing their estate planning. Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) are one way to make future costs of assisted living and even … Continue reading →






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What are the Benefits of a Living Trust? – Estate Planning Basics

Posted on September 21, 2011 by Roger Billings

  It is time again to get back to basics. You want an estate plan, but why go to the trouble of setting up a living trust? It may not be a good fit for everyone, but a living trust … Continue reading →






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Further Reading for Seminar on Celebrity Probates

Posted on September 20, 2011 by Roger Billings

  I gave a seminar today to the Estate and Financial Planning section of the Sacramento CalCPA chapter. Thanks to Bruce Kajiwara for the invitation. Following are the links to further reading on the celebrity probates discussed in the Seminar: … Continue reading →






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California Plan Your Giving Day

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Roger Billings

  Charities are feeling the pain, what with the distressed economy and the raised estate tax ceiling. But let’s not forget that it feels good to give. Ed Goldman’s Blog on the Sacramento Bee website contains the following: In her business as a … Continue reading →






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