Little & Koba, APC

Property Deed Recording Mail Scam Alert Recently, a few clients have notified us that they have received letters in the mail from companies appearing to be affiliated with the San Diego County Recorder’s Office or some other related entity regarding their property deeds. In the letters, the companies offer to send a copy of the property owner’s deed in exchange for payment of a fee. These letters look official and are typically sent out soon after a deed is recorded to m...ake unsuspecting consumers believe they have to order a copy of their deed which is false. If you receive a letter like the one described, we suggest that you contact the San Diego County Recorder’s Office to confirm whether the letter was issued by their office or by a scammer. If a letter is a SCAM, you may want to report it to the United States Postal Inspector to be investigated. See more

Estate Planning With the change in the Medi-Cal recovery law, claims for reimbursement can only be made as to the probate estate assets of a deceased person who received Medi-Cal payments. Individuals qualifying to receive Medi-Cal benefits should consider having a properly drafted and funded estate plan prior to signing up for Medi-Cal in order to protect their assets, like their home, from recovery by the state upon their death. If you would like to know whether an estate plan is right for you, or for more information regarding Medi-Cal eligibility, recovery and planning, please feel free to contact our office to set up a no-obligation appointment. [Caution: avoid "Trust-Mills" who offer cheap estate plans solely for the purpose of selling you annuities.]

Serving San Diego County Since 1986 - Call Today!

What is estate planning? Estate planning is the process of preparing for how a person’s assets will be distributed to successors after he or she dies. It’s meant to reduce the uncertainties and questions about the distribution, as well as mitigate any foreseeable arguments among survivors. A good estate plan will not only administer one’s property upon his or her death, it will also address the management of health care and financial needs if the person becomes incapable of doing so. Wills, trusts, powers of attorney and health care directives are all useful tools that are a part of estate planning. To learn more, visit www.danielmlittle.com or give us a call at (619) 656-8848.

Property Deed Recording Mail Scam Alert Recently, a few clients have notified us that they have received letters in the mail from companies appearing to be affiliated with the San Diego County Recorder’s Office or some other related entity regarding their property deeds. In the letters, the companies offer to send a copy of the property owner’s deed in exchange for payment of a fee. These letters look official and are typically sent out soon after a deed is recorded to m...ake unsuspecting consumers believe they have to order a copy of their deed which is false. If you receive a letter like the one described, we suggest that you contact the San Diego County Recorder’s Office to confirm whether the letter was issued by their office or by a scammer. If a letter is a SCAM, you may want to report it to the United States Postal Inspector to be investigated. See more

Every estate plan should be reviewed at least every five years, or more frequently, if any of the following events occur: Incapacity or death of a spouse Incapacity or death of a successor trustee Changes in marital status... Addition or deletion of a beneficiary Change of address Incapacity or death of a beneficiary Change (addition or deletion) of assets See more

Estate Planning With the change in the Medi-Cal recovery law, claims for reimbursement can only be made as to the probate estate assets of a deceased person who received Medi-Cal payments. Individuals qualifying to receive Medi-Cal benefits should consider having a properly drafted and funded estate plan prior to signing up for Medi-Cal in order to protect their assets, like their home, from recovery by the state upon their death. If you would like to know whether an estate plan is right for you, or for more information regarding Medi-Cal eligibility, recovery and planning, please feel free to contact our office to set up a no-obligation appointment. [Caution: avoid "Trust-Mills" who offer cheap estate plans solely for the purpose of selling you annuities.]

Laws are constantly changing and these changes could affect your estate plan. If you have not had your estate plan reviewed within the last three years, I strongly encourage you to contact my office for a complimentary review. Failing to keep your estate plan current could result in unnecessary costly expenses and legal complications for you and your family.

Choosing the right Successor Trustee to manage your trust assets is another important aspect of a proper Estate Plan that many individuals or couples overlook. Not only does a Successor Trustee have to be able to make appropriate financial decisions regarding the management of your trust assets, but he or she must also be able to openly communicate with the trust beneficiaries so as to avoid any issues or misunderstandings. As such, the Successor Trustee must be able to manage the delicate balance of meeting the needs of the Trust beneficiary(ies) while still complying with the terms of the Trust (and, in turn, the wishes of the Settlor or individual who created the Trust).

Successor Trustee Duties and Liabilities As a reminder, the obligations of a successor trustee begin at the time the person who created the trust either becomes incapacitated or passes away. There are several duties with deadlines that are to be handled timely by the successor trustee, and it is important that he or she understand the steps that need to be taken. Additionally, in performing such actions, a trustee may incur liability if they are not handled appropriately and the proper protections are not put into place.

Victoria E. Adams

Please visit our website at: http://www.danielmlittle.com/Welcome.html for additional information.