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

Blog

Trouble in the Chicken House (or Congress’s New Money Grab)

21 Aug 2019
W. Bailey Smith
0
Uncategorized

Congress can’t wait to get its hands on America’s retirement account assets. The House passed the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act (“SECURE”) in May. According to the Wall Street Journal, the vote was 417-3. Even our own Orange County...
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The Trust Dr. is at it again!

18 Jul 2019
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog

W. Bailey Smith recently spoke at the Stanford University Sierra Camp in Lake Tahoe. His topic was “Is Your Trust a Ticking Time Bomb?” which can be read about here.

SHALL I PUT MY HOME IN JOINT TENANCY WITH MY CHILD?

24 May 2019
W. Bailey Smith
1
Blog

I’m constantly hearing from clients that tell me about avoiding probate by placing their home in joint tenancy with their child. After all, everybody’s doing it! If you create a joint tenancy in your home with your child, then your child’s problems...
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HOW TO PAY FOR MEDICARE FOR ALL?

08 May 2019
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog

Numerous politicians are now proposing a new single-payer health insurance system for America. This new “Medicare for all” plan will be expensive. Last week, the Wall Street Journal explained how we would pay for “Medicare for all.” Three new taxes are being...
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Bernie Sanders Proposes to Jack Up the Taxes on the Rich

06 May 2019
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders proposes doubling the top death tax rate to 77% from 40% as a new way to tax the wealthy in America. Bernie is the Vermont Senator in his second run for the Democratic presidential nomination. He wants to...
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THE FIRST TO THE HOUSE AFTER THE FUNERAL WINS (OR HOW TO PREVENT YOUR CHILDREN BATTLING OVER YOUR “STUFF”)

22 Mar 2019
W. Bailey Smith
0
Uncategorized

Many people believe estate planning is only about the money. But when it comes to personal effects, the real battle begins. “Stuff” which is the legal term for non-titled property (like jewelry, art, silver, and antiques) is often the biggest source of...
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Decanting California Trusts: It’s Not Just For Wine

01 Feb 2019
W. Bailey Smith
0
Trust

While decanting a good bottle of wine may be familiar to many people, California recently reenacted a law that allows a new type of decanting: trust decanting. Similar to wine decanting, trust decanting, by which a trustee may remove or change trust...
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Trusts in the Age of Trump: Time to Re-Engineer Your Estate Plan

04 Jan 2019
W. Bailey Smith
0
Trust

The federal tax overhaul doubled the amount of wealth you can pass to heirs estate-tax-free–without using any trusts or planning gimmicks. Trump’s law allows slightly more than $11 million per person to be passed to kids or other noncharitable heirs free of...
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Busting A-B Trust

26 Dec 2018
W. Bailey Smith
1
Blog, Trust, Uncategorized

IS YOUR TRUST A TICKING TIME BOMB? 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...
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How Are You Making The Most Of The New Tax Cut?

12 Dec 2018
W. Bailey Smith
0
Uncategorized

What should you do before January 1, 2019 to make the most from President Trump’s new tax law? Based on your last year’s deductions, should you itemize your deductions or should you take the new higher standard deduction of $24,000.00 per couple?...
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The “Trust Doctor” at it again!

29 Nov 2018
W. Bailey Smith
1
Blog, Trust

The “Trust Doctor” at it again! Over the weekend I spoke about “How Donald Trump’s Tax Reform Act Affects Your Estate Plan” to 70 of my clients at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Newport Beach. Everyone raved about the traditional English breakfast...
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What Happens to Your Airline Miles When You Die?

27 Nov 2018
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog

What would you do if you knew you had a potentially valuable asset that could vanish upon your death? Many airlines say “officially” that frequent flier miles are not “your” property and cannot be willed to your heirs upon your death. Frequent...
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LET’S RETHINK THE MEANING OF ESTATE PLANS

13 Nov 2018
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog

A good estate plan goes beyond deciding who gets what and how much after you die. It should also address your hopes before you die – the things you hope to achieve later in life and what legacy you want to...
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How Donald Trump’s Tax Reform Act Affects Your Estate Plan and “Brain Aging and Dementia”

07 Nov 2018
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog, Trust

How Donald Trump’s Tax Reform Act Affects Your Estate Planning

25 May 2018
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog, Trust

Learn about Trusts and how the latest tax reform act of 2018 affects your estate planning.

Tax Reform Presentation May 29, 30, 31

25 May 2018
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog, Trust

How Donald Trump’s Tax Reform Act Affects Your Estate Plan I will be hosting a presentation in our Long Beach and Irvine office. There will be three dates to choose from: May 29th, 30th, or 31st. Attendance at either of the presentations...
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Exit Coach Radio – Podcast Sharing Estate Planning Strategies

22 May 2018
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog

House Swapping

09 May 2018
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog

House swapping simply means that you and your family agree with a family from a different area to live in each other’s homes during your holiday. Swap your home and travel just about everywhere in the world. No money changes hands between...
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The ABCs of Trust Administration

26 Apr 2018
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog, Trust

WHAT IS A TRUST? A trust is nothing more than a contract. If you are married, it would be a contract between you and your spouse, establishing a manager for your assets, stating how your assets will be handled while you’re both...
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The ABCs of Probate

24 Apr 2018
W. Bailey Smith
0
Blog, Trust

WHAT IS PROBATE? Probate is required if a person has no Will. Probate is also required even if a person has a Will. Probate is required unless a person takes steps to avoid probate. Probate is “proving the will” through a court...
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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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