Let's Talk About Common Law Marriage
Estate planning is a critical part of securing the future for any family, and for LGBTQ+ individuals, it is particularly important given the legal complexities and challenges that may arise in the current political climate....more
It is becoming increasingly commonplace for people to enter long-term romantic relationships without legally marrying. While there are no exact statistics on how many Americans fall into this growing category, a 2019 Pew...more
Domestic partnerships are legal arrangements between two individuals that grant some of the same rights and benefits as marriage. While domestic partnerships are recognized in many states, inheritance rights can differ...more
Many California financial elder abuse cases we see involve caregivers. While the vast majority are honest, a caregiver who spends many hours alone with a vulnerable client has a unique opportunity to exploit the situation. A...more
The Treasury Department has finally issued regulations implementing the rules requiring domestic entities to annually disclose their foreign financial assets to the Internal Revenue Service. In 2010, as part of the enactment...more
Families that have children who are adopted, or stepchildren who haven’t been legally adopted, face unique estate planning challenges. Additional consideration must be taken when a family includes an unmarried couple in a...more
To reduce risk of later attack on the domestic partnership agreement, domestic partners should make fair and reasonable financial disclosures to each other prior to signing the agreement. Each partner should disclose to the...more