When a loved one passes away, the successor trustee distributes the assets according to the decedent’s last wish. During that time, emotions are high, and things can become contentious and potentially lead to a lawsuit. This can happen even if the trustee is doing everything right. Transparency is a way to reduce the stress for…
A trustee takes responsibility for managing money and assets set aside in a trust for the benefit of another person. Along with this financial responsibility comes tax duties. A trustee must file complete and accurate tax returns and pay taxes when they are due. Here are a few things for a trustee to keep in…
The state and local tax (SALT) deduction permits taxpayers who itemize when filing federal taxes to deduct certain taxes paid to state and local governments. However, the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act imposed a $10,000 SALT itemized deduction limit. This affected California in particular because of the high-income tax rates in the state. What…
By Matthew G. Stein, Esq. As a trial attorney, I often advise my clients that cases are won or lost on the opening statement – after that, you have very little control in a trial. You do not get to choose the courtroom or the judge or the trial date. In fact, often there is…
So, you’ve found yourself in the position of trustee and are managing your loved one’s estate while they are still alive. What are your duties to account to the eventual beneficiaries of your loved one’s estate? And what if your loved one is incompetent, thus the reason you are now overseeing their estate? Beneficiaries Left…
How to Manage Your Photos, Data & Social Media Accounts After You Die Thinking about your “digital legacy” may seem strange but given the amount of data and content we all use and create (think about all your phone’s pictures, iCloud backups, texts, social media accounts, and Apps like Venmo and Starbucks), it is something…
A few weeks ago, the Rams won a Super Bowl for the first time since they have called Los Angeles “Home”. One of their stars, Odell Beckham Jr. (“OBJ”), signed a one-year contract prior to this season to play wide receiver for the Rams. For better or for worse, OBJ decided to convert his base…
As we enter a new year, we extend our appreciation and gratitude to both our existing and new clients. We have a genuine passion for what we do and we thank you for trusting Law Stein Anderson as your legal counsel. 2021 Recap 2021 was another unique year where we found ourselves overcoming challenges similar…