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Blended families are increasingly common throughout the United States, and with that comes a complex web of financial, emotional, and legal considerations. When two people marry later in life or after a divorce—with children from previous relationships—the question of who inherits what becomes more than just a minor detail. It becomes a cornerstone of long-term family…
A revocable living trust is not just a tool that holds property. It’s the glue that holds your family together! The only question is do you want that glue to be the cheap nonadhesive stuff you buy at the dollar store OR the NASA grade stuff that will hold anything together? Why a Revocable…
Avoid probate. Protect your family. Stay in control. Owning a home is a major milestone. It’s often the cornerstone of a family’s financial life, and in many cases, it’s the single largest asset a person will ever own. But surprisingly, most homeowners never take the step that truly protects that asset—and their family—when they’re gone.…
NOW, you might be too young, work too much, or just haven’t had time to think about it, but there is something out there called “beneficiary designations” that you can use in lieu of a trust or will, and that will literally cost you nothing, other than half an hour of your time. Sound interesting?…
The MAIN beneficiary of your Estate Plan, is your FAMILY. If you asked me 20-YEARS AGO about Estate Planning, I would have looked at you with a BLANK FACE. Fast-forward twenty-years, and I’m an estate planning attorney. Contrary to popular opinion, Estate Planning is not just a fancy word lawyers made up to add to…
Have you ever been told that there is “more than one way to skin a cat?” Well, it turns out that this saying is actually true, as least when it comes to probate, and more specifically, how to avoid it. Probate is when your loved one dies owning assets in their own name and/or has…
PROBATE is long, costly, and sometimes, contentious. Further, and in certain circumstances, it cannot be avoided. But this article isn’t about the horrors of probate, but instead, about the silver-lining that lives within the realm of probate, that most people are unaware of. The Spousal Property Petition: The spousal property petition is a legal process…
“5-THINGS YOU DON’T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT ESTATE PLANNING” READER WARNING: IF YOU ARE EASILY OFFENDED, OPEN-MINDED BUT ONLY WHEN IT ALIGNS WITH YOUR OPINION, AN IDEOLOGUE BUT NOT A GOOD ONE, OR THINK BAMBI’S MOM (SPOILER ALERT) SHOULDN’T HAVE BEEN KILLED IN DISNEY’S CULT CLASSIC MOVIE ABOUT LOSS AND NEW BEGINNINGS, THEN YOU SHOULD…
Before we jump into the confusing and sometimes convoluted world of taxes, gains, and trusts; let’s start with something easy, you know, like introducing ourselves. I’ll start! My name is Ruben J. Martinez, and as many of you know I am Ruben J. Martinez, APC. Practice wise, I do a lot of things, but mostly,…
