When a family is faced with putting together a meaningful but short memorial service, it helps to have a template to structure the event. A short but meaningful service covers the “Four Rs”: Recognize the death, Remember the person, Reaffirm beliefs, and Release the spirit. Feel free to add readings and play music that reflects […]

Our last article What We Can All Learn from Diller v. Richardson discussed the facts of the Diller v. Richardson No. A162139 (Cal. Ct. App. Mar. 17, 2022) case. As you will recall, the Estate Planning attorney who helped the Dillers draft their plan during life subsequently helped the surviving spouse, Sanford Diller, dismantle that […]

There are several attorneys who focus on Pet Planning and are quite successful in their efforts. I wanted to share how they attracted such a great flow of business. Be passionate about the pet niche or any other niche you are making an effort to serve. Be clear about what the estate planning challenges, needs, […]

When I was in private practice, I often commented that Estate Planning attorneys serve as true counselors and advisors for our clients. Clients call on their Estate Planning attorneys to fill many roles in addition to the ones for which they hire us. It’s a natural evolution of the attorney/client relationship. After all, clients trust […]

Driving to the office on a Thursday morning, you pull into your regular parking spot, unclip your seatbelt, and start walking to the door. “Wait, how did I get here?” you think “I grabbed my coffee, slightly remembered turning on my engine, and now I’m here.” Walking into the office your mind begins to churn […]

Ah, summer…it’s here! The time for barbeques, baseball, beaches, and … Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) Section 529 plans (“529 plans”)? Yes! As we enjoy the lazy days of summer, let’s get a jump start on thinking about the new school year, which means now’s the perfect time to look at your Estate Plan, especially […]

As business owners there are plenty of concerns that can keep you up at night – how to grow your referrals, what are the latest trends in online marketing, how do tax law changes impact my client base – but are you thinking about how you are developing and leading your team? Having a team […]

This blog often focuses on Revocable Trusts and the flexibility, continuity, and protections that they provide. Of course, in addition to the foregoing benefits, trusts avoid the probate process, which can be lengthy and expensive in some states. While extolling the virtue of an Estate Plan based upon a Revocable Trust, practitioners may forget to […]

In today’s digital age, more and more people are turning to the internet to find the services they need. This is especially true for legal services. In fact, a recent study found that 80% of people use the internet to research lawyers before making a decision. If you’re an attorney, you need to make sure […]

A quick reminder – a nerd wrote this blog for other nerds. Continuing to read this blog may make you a nerd if you do not already consider yourself one. A qualified Estate Planning practitioner considers the impact that estate, gift, generation-skipping transfer, and inheritance taxes will have on an Estate Plan. After all, clients […]