W. Bailey Smith, A Certified Estate Planning Attorney - Blog

Blog

Warren Buffett Talks to His Kids About His Will. You Should Too.

04 Feb 2025
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog, Estate Planning

The billionaire investor has a simple estate-planning suggestion for parents. It’s one that lots of us would rather ignore. Warren Buffett wants you to talk to your family about your will. The legendary stock picker, 94, shared his strategy this past week...
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IS YOUR TRUST A TICKING TIME BOMB?

26 Dec 2024
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog, Estate Planning

These days very few families need a complicated tax avoidance trust also known as an A-B Trust. Many trusts were set up over the years to help protect wealth from death taxes. The old A-B Trust allowed you to double the tax...
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Merry Christmas 2024

17 Dec 2024
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog

Wishing you a joyous holiday season filled with peace, love and happiness. May the spirit of Christmas bring warmth to your home and hear. Merry Christmas! – W. Bailey and Lenda Smith

Best Lawyers 2024

12 Dec 2024
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog

I am honored to be recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in the United States in the area of Trusts and Estates – W. Bailey Smith

Some of the Favorite Beneficiaries Wear Fur!

23 Nov 2024
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog

Your pet is like your kid. We love them unconditionally. Our pets come to us from the pet store, rescue shelter, and friends. Our pets come in all shapes and sizes from horses to hamsters from ferrets to felines – they inherit...
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Old Beneficiary Form Gave His Ex $1 Million

14 Nov 2024
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog

Jeffrey and Margaret dated in the 1980s. Now, almost 40 years after they broke up, she stands to inherit his $1 million retirement account. The reason Margaret will get Jeff’s money is that in 1987, Jeff listed his girlfriend, Margret, on a...
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Veterans Day – Honoring All Who Served

08 Nov 2024
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog

Thank You! Today, as we reflect on the selfless service and sacrifice of our Veterans, we wish to extend our gratitude to all those who have defended our great Nation and those who are currently serving. We remain grateful for what all...
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Puppies or Probate?

07 Nov 2024
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog

How do you want to spend your time? Probates are complicated, asking for help is not! Call the Trust Dr. (W. Bailey Smith) for an appointment to avoid probate. We can help! Spend more time with your dog and let us do...
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Happy Halloween

31 Oct 2024
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog

Happy Halloween from Hanalei Bay, Kauai. The Trust Dr is the short guy in the red hat!

NEW TAX ADJUSTMENTS FOR 2025!

01 Oct 2024
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog

Annual Exclusion increased from $18,000.00 to $19,000.00 Estate Tax Exemption increased from $13,610,000 to $13,990,000

COMMANDER’S PALACE IN NEW ORLEANS

17 Sep 2024
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog

A Michelin 3 Star experience in New Orleans with over 8,000 5 Star reviews! Our server was superb, the atmosphere elegant, and the food top notch! This restaurant is the very best of New Orleans and should be on the top of...
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The Trust Dr. (W. Bailey Smith) Speaks to the OC Standford Club

06 Sep 2024
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog

*Pictured: W. Bailey Smith, Riyad Said (Client Advisor at BMO), and Robert Motoshige (Managing Director of Community Improvement Capital LLC)

Lessons Learned From Britney Spears’s Financial Conservatorship

11 Jul 2024
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog, Probate

Conservatorships are imposed by the Court on individuals who can no longer take care of themselves financially or health wise. They are expensive in both time and money. Court hearings are public proceedings. They are often referred to as “living probates.” The...
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Happy 4th of July from the Trust Dr. (W. Bailey Smith) and family!

08 Jul 2024
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog

The Brady Bunch Breaks Down: Estate Fights Tear Stepfamilies Apart

02 Jul 2024
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog, Estate Planning

More American couples are coming together with children from prior relationships. It often goes well until it comes time to read the will. When Bishop Rayford High Jr., a widow with 3 adult children married the Rev. Ann Normand with 3 adult...
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Dining at the Getty Museum

25 Jun 2024
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog

Lenda and W. Bailey Smith (the Trust Dr.) were delighted by our tour of the Getty Museum and pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food, excellent service, beautiful views, and reasonable prices. LA is famous for many restaurants, but the Getty...
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How to Avoid Lawsuits?

30 May 2024
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog, Estate Planning, Probate, Trust

Lawsuits can be filed by anyone and there’s no sure way to avoid them. It is impossible to anticipate every issue that could give rise to the lawsuit. However, there are several ways to reduce the likelihood of litigation. Beneficiaries should be...
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Honoring Our American Heroes

28 May 2024
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog

Honoring our American heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice. Especially my fellow agents in counterintelligence who died during the Vietnam War. W. Bailey Smith

Where is your beneficiary designation form?

23 May 2024
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog, Estate Planning

Your beneficiary designation forum is the document that controls your IRA, 401 (K), and other retirement plans. You need to keep a copy of it for each and every IRA and if you can’t find it, you might be facing probate. IRAs...
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If Heirs Are Fighting, Try Mediation

16 May 2024
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog, Estate Planning

Mediation is a way of settling disputes before they escalate into litigation. Mediation has become popular because it reduces the need for families to go to court and it saves money. It’s surprising how many ruptures there are in families where wills...
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About Us

W. Bailey Smith is a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust Administration and Probate. He has served as an Agent in Counter-Intelligence in the U.S. Army. He graduated from Stanford University and the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.

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Address:
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The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this website should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship.

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