The film “Black Heirlooms” has not received any Oscar nominations. It was made by 32-year-old Amanda Brown, whose grandmother’s long-term illness ripped her once close-knit family apart for lack of long-term care planning.
Life Lessons From Celebrity Deaths on Updating Your Estate Plan A new year always brings the sad reviews of notable personalities who have died in the past year. Two notable movie stars – Philip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Walker – provide a cautionary tale on the importance of keeping your estate plan and will up…
Pasadena Trust Litigation Attorney Discuss Estate of James Brown No One Feeling Good About Continuing Battle Over James Brown Estate James Brown was known for his signature song, “I Feel Good,” but no one is feeling good about the battle that is still being waged over his estate almost a decade after his death in…
Hollywood Legend Lauren Bacall Leaves Large Estate and Two Potentially Large Headaches for Heirs Legendary Hollywood actress Lauren Bacall died on August 12, 2014, leaving behind an estate estimated at $26.6 million and three children who face a couple of potentially serious problems that could have been avoided through effective estate planning. Bacall, who was…
The 4 Key Life Skills Your Children Need to Have Before They Inherit Inherited wealth need not be “an albatross around the neck of the children” as Sting so succinctly put it recently when asked if he was leaving his wealth to his children. His children will not see much of his millions, but not…
How to Prepare Your Heirs to Receive, Protect and Grow Their Inheritance When we think of vast family wealth, most of us know the name Cornelius Vanderbilt, the railroad and shipping scion of one of the richest families in America in the 19th century. When he died in 1877, he left a fortune of $100…
Pasadena Estate Planning Attorneys Discuss Financial Self Protection Tips for the Newly Single Whether you have a lost a spouse or partner through divorce or death, being thrust into singlehood can be an emotionally and financially jarring experience. To get yourself back on firm footing, at least financially, follow these five steps: Finalize financial plans.…
Top 5 Myths About Incorporating Your Business Choosing the right type of entity for your business is a critical decision that can have long-lasting ramifications in terms of taxes and personal liability. It is not unusual for those starting a business for the first time to have some misconceptions about incorporation; here are the top…
Business Attorney in Pasadena Discusses Founder’s Agreements How to Properly Structure a Founder’s Agreement for Your New Venture We are a nation of entrepreneurs, but we are also living in a litigious society, so if you are starting a new venture and there are other founders involved, a founder’s agreement is essential to protecting your…
Robin Williams: A Lesson in Deeds, Not Words + One Error in Planning One of the most eloquent responses to Robin Williams’ death came from his best friend Billy Crystal, who posted on Twitter simply: “No words.” When someone close to us dies — especially in a sudden and tragic way — the grief is…