In their article for The Recorder, Shareholders Andrew Verriere & Ryan Szczepanik discuss how California courts remain beleaguered by budgetary constraints. The courts lack the resources to process the large volume of trust and estate related matters. Even uncontested matters are being filed at rates exponentially higher than just a few years ago. Litigants have an alternative when facing these unavoidable delays: their right to refer matters to a private judge for resolution.
To read the full article, click here.
Travis Neal looks at the Spousal Lifetime Access Trust and how business owners can minimize the estate tax implications when their business is worth more than the gift and estate tax exclusion.
Many IRA owners withdraw funds from their IRA accounts for short-term purposes. The owner then uses subsequent income to restore funds to the IRA. If the restored contribution is made within sixty days of the withdrawal, the withdrawal may be tax-free.
Hartog, Baer & Hand (HBH) Principal Ryan J. Szczepanik has been elected as president of the East Bay Trust and Estate Lawyers (EBTEL). Effective Jan. 1, Szczepanik succeeds HBH Principal David D. Little in the role.