Articles Posted in Current Affairs

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California has roughly 900 new laws that will go into effect in 2015. Some of the highlights are: Immigrant Driver’s Licenses The DMV will now issue driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants if they meet every qualification including passing a driving test.
Plastic Bag Ban Grocery stores will stop using single-use plastic bags and stores will be allowed to charge $.10 for paper bags. Residential Care Facilities The state may block admissions to residential care facilities that have been cited for violations. Facilities for the elderly must have at least one (1) carbon monoxide detector installed Residential care facilities have only 10 days to remedy license deficiencies. State Amphibian For the first time, California has an official state amphibian. It is the red-legged frog who was popularized in Mark Twain’s “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County.” Absentee Voting Absentee ballots mailed on election day will be counted if they arrive within three days. Previously, absentee ballots had to be mailed before election day. You can read about more important new laws in the LA Times here.

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As Palm Desert estate planning attorneys, we frequently see clients with beneficiary designation issues. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal highlights this integral part of estate planning. A Will or Trust is very important but will not work for assets with beneficiary designations. Every year you should check your beneficiary designations to confirm they are valid and accurate.

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Some celebrity estates are embroiled in the media and legal battles while others remain private and relatively peaceful. Here are some lessons learned from the estates of the rich and famous.

Fund Your Revocable Trust

Recently deceased Paul Walker set up a trust for the benefit of his minor daughter. However, he failed to fund it so it will eventually be funded under the terms of his pour-over will when the probate is closed. His will and his reportedly $25,000,000 in assets is now public record through the probate court proceedings in Santa Barbara, California.

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As estate planning lawyers in Palm Springs, we frequently get asked by clients to prepare deeds transferring property to children. As we have previously discussed, using deeds as an estate plan is very risky and not recommended. A recent bankruptcy ruling in Oklahoma highlights this problem:

Whether for carpentry or estate planning, it is usually a good idea to use the right tool for

the job. Unfortunately, when it comes to estate planning and asset transfer, people are

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The IRS recently declared that same-sex married couples will enjoy the same tax treatment as straight couples beginning on September 16, 2013. This is an important decision since the practical realities of life post-DOMA were uncertain. Now, same-sex married persons can file joint returns, amend previous returns and request refunds for the past three years. Additionally, the IRS explained that it will recognize any legal marriage irrespective of the state of residence of the filers. This means that a gay couple in Kansas could travel to Washington and get legally married and this marriage would be recognized by the IRS. When the Kansas couple returns to their home state they must file as a married couple on their federal income tax returns. (They would not be able to file as a married couple for their state tax returns, however.)

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While the end of DOMA is wonderful, it doesn’t solve all problems for same-sex couples. The lifting of DOMA restrictions only applies to married same-sex couples. Unmarried same-sex, and also opposite-sex, couples have unique issues and concerns when creating an estate plan. Various techniques and tax saving vehicles are unavailable to unmarried partners.

Joint Trusts

Joint trusts are unadvisable for unmarried partners since the couple does not enjoy marital exemptions in gifting. Unmarried partners may choose instead to have separate trusts with identical provisions. For example, when one partner dies the other inherits everything.

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There are numerous tax and other important consequences of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). Also, estate planning for same-sex married couples will be easier and less cumbersome than ever before. Some of the effects of the recent decision are discussed below.

“Married” Filing Status for Federal Income Taxes

Same-sex married couples will now file their annual federal income taxes as married, either jointly or separately. Tax preparation should be less expensive and simpler than under DOMA. Married same-sex couples will no longer have to decide which spouse takes which deduction or who claims which dependent child.

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The Supreme Court ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional. The act defined marriage under federal law as between a “man and a woman.” That definition is no longer valid. This means that same-sex couples who are legally married will be treated like any other married couple under federal law.

This does not mean that all states must recognize same-sex marriage. This decision only means that where same-sex marriage is already legal, these couples will be recognized as married under federal law. However, this decision can vastly affect estate planning opportunities and tax advantages for same-sex married couples.

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We at Burt + Clerc are happy to share the news that Julia E. Burt was named “Top Lawyer” by Palm Springs Life Magazine for 2013. Julia is a certified specialist in Estate Planning, Trust and Probate Law as well as a California Certified Public Accountant. You can read all about this year’s Top Lawyers in the current issue of Palm Springs Life Magazine.

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We didn’t fall off the fiscal cliff. In the wee hours of January 1, 2013 Congress finally reached a deal on taxes. The American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA) outlines the changes to taxes in 2013. The new laws are similar to those in existence in 2012 with some slight modifications.

Ordinary Income Taxes
Tax rates are 10%, 15%, 25%, 28%, 33%, 35% and an additional 39.6% was added in 2013. This new tax bracket will be assessed for incomes >$400,000 for single filers and $450,000 if married filing jointly.

Qualified Dividends/Long-Term Capital Gains
0%, 15% and a new 20% bracket was added for incomes >$400,000 for single filers and $450,000 if married filing jointly.

Medicare Tax on Net Investment Income
This is a brand new tax of 3.8% for modified adjusted gross incomes >$200,000 for single filers and $250,000 if married filing jointly.

Social Security Payroll Reduction
The 2% reduction enjoyed for the past two years expired January 1, 2013.

Estate/Gift/GST Taxes
40% for Estates/Gift/Generation Skipping Transfers over $5,000,000 adjusted for inflation. (Adjusted amount for 2013 is $5,250,000).
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