Desert Law Group Blog

• Posted in: General interest

I often joke about the fact that wisdom usually comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone. This interesting article in the New York Times shares some interesting facts. What is wisdom? Some say it is staying positive and kind in the face of challenges and as such it is […]

• Posted in: Antiques/Heirlooms

Antique Roadshow, a popular television show where people discover treasures in their attics and basements and have them appraised, has spawned a copycat craze. People all over the country are now getting items appraised free at walk-in events at a variety of locations. However, these kinds of appraisals, called “verbal […]

• Posted in: Long Term Care Insurance

You probably have heard how expensive long term care insurance is. And it is. Premiums could range from $1,000 to $3,000 a year. But that may still be less expensive than paying your own way at a nursing home or other facility. Still, there are some strategies to reduce the […]

• Posted in: health care

While there has been plenty of attention paid to the Affordable Care Act, another change in the way we deliver and pay for health care is underway without much fanfare. But it too may bring with it a number of concerns. California is among at least 26 states that are […]

• Posted in: Long Term Care Insurance

When it comes to shopping for long-term-care insurance, it’s buyer beware. The costs of long-term-care can be astronomical and would quickly wipe out one’s savings.  Many boomers are looking to buy long-term-care insurance to cover that risk. But many are finding out that they didn’t really understand what they had […]

• Posted in: Estate Taxes

The top tax bracket for the federal estate tax is currently at 40 percent. This might seem high, but as a recent article points out, very few people actually pay this tax. Most estates are entirely exempt from estate tax. There is a $5,340,000 exemption from federal estate tax, meaning […]

• Posted in: Beneficiary Designation

Some of your assets cannot be passed on to your heirs through your Last Will and Testament. Instead, some assets are passed on to a beneficiary who you designate under the terms of the agreement with the financial institution. For example, bank accounts, brokerage accounts, retirement plans, annuities and life […]

• Posted in: Current Affairs

Even though the Federal government is currently shut down, as this country moves toward the changes brought forth by the rollout of the Affordable Care Act, you should beware of the potential for the theft of your personal information. Remember, whenever a natural disaster or tragedy occurs or a new […]

• Posted in: Estate Planning

As estate planning attorneys, we are often asked, “When should I do my estate plan?” The answer is: “Anyone who is over the age of 18.” Estate planning is critical to everyday living for adults over the age of 18, and should be one of the priorities regardless of your […]

• Posted in: Estate Planning

In an ever-increasing paperless world, it is becoming more important to create a plan for your survivors to follow when navigating your online financial accounts. Prior to the digitalization of financial records, when a loved one passed on, organizing financial records was a fairly straight forward process consisting of gathering […]