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Maximizing Annual Gifts
Trusts & Estate Planning Attorney by Kira S. Masteller 818.907.3244 Individuals with estates that are valued over the Federal estate tax exemption ($5,250,000 in 2013) should consider making annual gifts to their family now so
How Does the DOMA Ruling Affect Estate Planning?
Trusts & Estate Planning Attorney by Kira S. Masteller 818.907.3244 The United States Supreme Court’s ruling on Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) on June 26, declaring the definition of marriage as
Wacky Employee Claims: Reasonable Accommodations for Unreasonable Requests?
Employment Defense by Nicole Kamm 818.907.3235 As an employment defense attorney, I often think I’ve heard it all: every conceivable employee complaint, late-to-work excuse, and “reasonable” accommodation request. Still, from time to time, I come
Tony Soprano’s Run In With the Tax Man
by Robert A. Hull Many of us who were fans of the HBO show about a fictional New Jersey mafia family, The Sopranos, and actor James Gandolfini in particular (who played mob boss Tony
Post-DOMA for Employers
With the dust just settling on Wednesday’s ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act, or DOMA, and Proposition 8 federal court opinions, now is the time for employers to consider the potential impact on their
Prop 8 and DOMA: Where Do We Stand Now?
Divorce Attorney by Vanessa Soto Nellis 818.907.3274 In two 5-4 decisions this morning, the U.S. Supreme Court dismissed a Proposition 8 appeal that denied same-sex couples the right to marry in California, as well as
Divorce Finance: What is a Retainer Fee?
Visitation & Custody Lawyer by Vanessa Soto Nellis 818.907.3274 What is a retainer fee and how does it work? Essentially, a retainer fee is, and works like, a down payment for legal services and expenses.
Designated Beneficiary Assets: Consider Your Income, Capital Gains & Estate Taxes
Trusts & Estate Planning Attorney by Kira S. Masteller 818.907.3244 In the third segment of our series regarding Gift Tax & Estate Planning, we’ll examine assets that require designated beneficiaries, specifically: IRA accounts, retirement accounts, life
Using Life Insurance and Irrevocable Trusts in Estate Planning
Trusts & Estate Planning Attorney by Kira S. Masteller 818.907.3244 Continuing with Part 2 of our Gift Tax and Estate Planning blog series (we discussed Living Trusts in Part 1 of the series), we now
Oprah Winfrey’s Fair Use Defense Rejected
IP Litigation Attorney by Nicholas Kanter 818-907-3289 On Friday, the Second Circuit ruled that the owner of a motivation services business (Simone Kelly-Brown) can continue with her trademark infringement lawsuit against media mogul Oprah Winfrey. Kelly-Brown