Desert Law Group Blog

• Posted in: Estate Planning

When the U.S. Supreme Court handed down their ruling last Wednesday, striking section 3 from the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as unconstitutional, the Court radically changed the estate planning laws for many same-sex married couples. Not only are marriages of same-sex couples is now recognized as legal under federal […]

• Posted in: Estate Planning

There are many estate planning considerations that parents need to make. Although grim, parents need to consider and plan for the possibility that one or both parents may suddenly become unable to care for their minor children. A recent article discusses some of the estate planning considerations that parents should […]

• Posted in: Estate Planning

When planning your estate, it is important to remember that communication with your loved ones and friends is vital to the success of your plan. A recent article discusses how best to can start an estate planning conversation. Schedule the conversation: By scheduling a time to speak about your estate […]

• Posted in: Domestic Partners

Domestic partners, even ones registered with a state, do not share the same rights as married couples. Therefore, domestic partners need to be extra careful when crafting their estate plans. A recent article describes several common pitfalls to avoid in domestic partner estate planning. The first pitfall occurs in gifting […]

• Posted in: Estate Planning

As more and more American farmers reach the age of retirement, they sometimes feel that they are being forced to make decisions about what will happen to their farm after they pass on. Farmers typically have two options, (1) sell the farm, or (2) pass on the farm onto remaining […]

• Posted in: Estate Planning

Many pet owners are refusing to leave the future of their pets to chance. As a recent article explains, devoted pet owners are providing for the care of their pets through wills, trusts, or other estate-planning provisions. As pet owner Carol Santora explained, “I got really nervous about it because […]

• Posted in: Estate Planning

Parents with special needs children face many challenges. While protecting your child’s financial future may seem like a far-off goal, a recent article points out that it is important to partake in some long-term financial planning now. Early planning helps to ensure that your child has enough assets to maintain […]

• Posted in: Estate Planning

Estate planning is especially important for farmers and ranchers, as it assists them in passing the farm and its operation along to the next generation, and may save some taxes in the process. A recent article discusses important steps in the process of estate planning for farmers and ranchers. According […]

• Posted in: Veteran's Benefits

New regulations published in the Federal Register last December will ease the process of receiving health care and compensation for veterans who suffer or have suffered from a variety of illnesses that are caused by a traumatic brain injury (“T.B.I.”). As reported in The New York Times, the new regulations […]

• Posted in: Estate Planning

A common estate planning question is whether it is better to allow your heirs to inherit your home, or give it to them as a gift. This article in the Los Angeles Times addresses that question. Generally, it is better to let your child inherit homes that have appreciated in […]