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.
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For those of you who plan to file your 2014 tax return timely so that you can get your refund promptly, you should probably postpone your shopping spree. According to article by Stephen Ohlemacher of Associate Press, Congress again passed a tax bill this year just before shutting down for […]
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You’ve got plenty to do this time of year. Buy presents. Get a turkey. Decorate the house. But there’s one more thing that you should add to the list – update your estate plan. Your estate plan needs to change as often as your life changes, says an article on […]
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The estate tax exemption for 2015 has jumped to $5.43 million per person, up from $5.34 million, due to an adjustment for inflation, the IRS has announced. For a married couple, the combined exemption increases to nearly $11 million, notes a story in the Wall Street Journal. The annual gift […]
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Even though many people think so, retirement accounts are not included in wills. A story in Forbes points out that who gets the money invested in a retirement account such as an IRA depends on who is named on the account’s beneficiary form. Lots of people make mistakes when it […]
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Seniors often say, practically without exception, that they wish to grow old in their own homes. But, as a recent Huffington Post article by Rachel Adelson points out, the elderly also need to ensure they don’t sentence themselves to isolation and loneliness by doing so. “Although folks want to stay […]
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Reverse mortgages seem like a good idea and it is in the right set of circumstances. They allow older homeowners to borrow against the value of their homes and the money doesn’t have to be paid back until they move or die. As a result, they have money to provide […]
Read moreI 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 […]
Read moreAntique 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 […]
Read moreYou 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 […]
Read moreWhile 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 […]
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