Clear, primary-sourced guides to estate planning and business law for California families and business owners, kept current as the law changes.
In California the choice usually comes down to one thing: keeping your family out of probate.
Read →June 24, 2026If you have just been named a successor trustee, here is what the law actually asks of you.
Read →June 22, 2026Estate planning is not only about what happens after you are gone. Two documents protect you right now.
Read →June 18, 2026Since 2021, inheriting a parent's home in California can trigger a property-tax reassessment, unless the child moves in.
Read →June 16, 2026A special-needs trust lets you support a family member with a disability without disqualifying them from essential public benefits.
Read →June 14, 2026Your retirement accounts often pass outside your will or trust, which is exactly why the beneficiary form matters so much.
Read →June 12, 2026An estate plan is not a one-time document. A few life events should always prompt a review.
Read →June 8, 2026Probate is the court process for settling an estate, and in California it is worth understanding before you need it.
Read →The right entity depends on how you want to be taxed, raise money, and run your company.
Read →June 10, 2026The right structure, properly maintained, keeps a business problem from becoming a personal one.
Read →The Board of Equalization issued a detailed question-and-answer letter on August 3, 2026 explaining exactly when a child keeps a parent's low property-tax basis, and the ordinary decisions that end it.
Read →August 17, 2026As of August 1, 2026, the Secretary of State hides the online Statement of Information filing option from anyone who has not first established User Access on the entity's record.
Read →August 15, 2026A final rule effective August 14, 2026 exempts U.S.-formed companies from Corporate Transparency Act reporting, and FinCEN says it will delete information already filed by U.S. persons.
Read →June 26, 2026A new law sets the 2026 lifetime exemption at $15 million per person, and the annual gift exclusion holds at $19,000.
Read →Older pieces, kept for reference. Some figures and law may have changed; our guides above are the current word.
By Donald Flaig, Esq.
Read →January 3, 2024Small business owners will have one more item on their compliance to-do list when the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) takes effect next year.
Read →February 23, 2022What is a Limited Liability Company (LLC)? An LLC a non-corporate entity that is authorized by statute and may engage in lawful acts or activity. The…
Read →July 1, 2021As we all know, the Covid-19 pandemic has affected just about everything. It has definitely been true with ‘legacy planning’ as the need and urgency…
Read →June 18, 2021Owning a business can be an exciting prospect, but if not organized and run properly, you may become personally liable for business related expenses.…
Read →June 18, 2021Most people don’t have a lot of experience handling what happens after their loved one dies and they have been named as the Successor Trustee – in…
Read →May 14, 2021For many pet owners, pets are members of the family. These individuals often say that if something happens to them, they are more concerned with what…
Read →April 3, 2021Are You Being Too Informal? A Case Study – We have found that small businesses tend to operate their business without the stringent formalities of a…
Read →March 6, 2021The unthinkable just might happen, so be prepared. Have a well documented and detailed set of instructions already neatly assembled and in place.…
Read →February 21, 2021Americans hold nearly $15 Trillion in IRA’s and other qualified plans. If you have a retirement plan you have made a series of very wise decisions.…
Read →November 20, 2020Is Your California Corporation or LLC in Good Standing?
Read →September 22, 2020Voting season is just around the corner, and with that comes numerous propositions on the ballot. One of them is especially important for California…
Read →May 27, 2020May 2020 by Donald W. Flaig, Esq.
Read →May 27, 2020April 2020 by Donald W. Flaig, Esq.
Read →February 24, 2019You want to amend your Living Trust, but do not want to spend the money or take the time to meet with an attorney to discuss the modifications.…
Read →February 23, 2019Divorce is never easy. It is a very emotional time filled with many decisions that need to be made. During the emotional and financial turmoil of a…
Read →February 22, 2019While most of us do not want to consider or think about the possibility of someday becoming incapacitated, it is a reality in today’s world.…
Read →September 30, 2018Generally speaking most people understand the need to have an Estate Plan put into place. Whether someone is affluent or has a simple estate, the…
Read →September 22, 2018There are 5 “MUST HAVE” documents included along with your Living Trust when creating your Estate Plan. While the Living Trust is primarily used…
Read →August 28, 2018While there is a belief, that is true to some extent, that there is flexibility with LLCs, be wary to fall into the trap of believing that you can be…
Read →August 24, 20181. FAILING TO PLAN. The surest way to mess up your estate, allow the courts and attorneys to eat up your legacy, is to fail to do any planning.…
Read →August 20, 2018We have found that an increasing number of businesses do not end up surviving beyond the founding owner’s lifetime. Most people do not take the time…
Read →October 25, 20172017 is going to have changes. Let’s see, a new President, possible interest and tax changes, a Republican run Congress and House – these are not…
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