Welcome to the Desert Law Group blog! Here you will find estate planning information and insights, helpful tips to preserve your wealth and protect your assets, and copies of our latest newsletters, Lawyer for Life, Elder Law Update, and Smart Aging Update.
Browse recent posts to gain general information, use the menu at the left to search by topic, or join the Desert Law Group community by subscribing to have new posts emailed directly to your inbox. Topics include: estate planning, probate and trusts, healthcare planning, special needs planning, charitable giving, and more. Check back regularly for updates!
If you would like to receive more information about anything you’ve read on our blog or have questions that you can’t find the answer to, contact our office at 760-776-9977 to speak with an estate planning attorney.
For many families, life insurance is one of the first financial products they purchase. It provides an important safety net, replacing lost income, paying off debts, or helping loved ones maintain financial stability after a death. Because of those benefits, many people mistakenly believe that having life insurance means they have an estate plan. Sure, […]
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The most important part of inheritance may be the way you leave it. You’ve spent years building wealth with one goal in mind: leaving something meaningful to the next generation. You work hard, save diligently, and create an estate plan that reflects your wishes. But have you considered whether your heirs are prepared to inherit […]
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Most people assume that once they’ve signed their estate planning documents, everything they own will pass according to their wishes. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. One of the most common and costly mistakes people make is forgetting about their beneficiary designation forms. Retirement accounts, life insurance policies, annuities, and many investment accounts allow you […]
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Watching a parent grow older isn’t always easy. Most older adults value their independence, and many families struggle with knowing when, or even how, to step in. The need for help often develops gradually. Small changes that seem insignificant on their own can add up to signs that your loved one could benefit from additional […]
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Many people assume that if they give money or property to a child, grandchild, or other loved one, there are no tax consequences to worry about. While gifting can be a powerful estate planning tool, the rules surrounding gifts are often misunderstood. Understanding the difference between the annual gift tax exclusion and the lifetime gift […]
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Not long ago, many people viewed estate planning primarily as a way to decide who would inherit their assets after they passed away. While that’s still important, today’s estate planning conversations increasingly focus on a different reality: people are living longer than ever before. Living longer is certainly something to celebrate, but it also creates […]
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A lot of elder law planning quietly assumes something that isn’t always true: that there’s a child in the picture. Someone to step in. Someone to help manage finances. Someone to advocate during a health crisis. Someone to eventually carry out the plan. But for some clients, they either don’t have children, their child has […]
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It’s one of the most common “quick fixes” we see, and usually the most misunderstood. Did you know that adding a child to your bank account can quietly unravel a carefully built estate plan? Most people do this for convenience, so kids can help a parent pay bills, manage their online banking, or simply have […]
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If you’ve seen headlines about the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA), you might be wondering: “Do I still need to worry about estate planning?” or “How does this affect my current estate plan?” It’s a fair question. And like most things in the tax and legal world, the answer is… it depends. But here’s […]
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There’s something undeniably appealing about the do-it-yourself approach. We live in a world where you can order dinner, build a business, and yes, even create an estate plan, from your laptop in a matter of minutes. Online platforms promise simplicity, speed, and low cost. And to be fair, they deliver on those promises. What they […]
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