Author: Lockhart Gardner

2020 is a major election year. While it’s too early to tell what that means in terms of which side of the aisle will have the majority, it’s not too early to start planning for estate tax law changes that could happen. Proposed Estate Tax Law Changes Depending on the outcome of the November elections,  there’s a strong chance that estate tax reforms will pass and be applied to assets...

An executor of a Will and Trustee of a Trust have distinct legal responsibilities and there are major legal liabilities at stake when confusing these two different roles. Let’s explore the differences. What does an executor of a Will do? If your loved one passed away with a Will, then an executor is named within the document or appointed by the court. The executor of a Will carries out the...

The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the fiscal year 2020 could bring change for our country’s Gold Star families and survivors of fallen veterans. If passed, it could repeal a law nicknamed the Widow’s Tax that currently, “affects more than 65,000 military families nationwide, costing each an average of about $11,000 per year,” in lost compensation. Under current law, surviving...

The sad reality is senior citizens are often targets for con or scam artists in order to divest them of their hard-earned money. Seniors with any mental or physical incapacities are even more at risk. According to the NCOA, “While likely under-reported, estimates of elder financial abuse and fraud costs to older Americans range from $2.9 billion to $36.5 annually.” Protecting yourself and your...

When a loved one dies, their family members go through a lengthy process of taxes, financials, and legalities. While everyone’s situation is different, it is important to seek the help of a professional attorney for California trust administration and it’s crucial to do so as soon as possible! If you wait to seek out professional help before the administration process begins, you may find tax...

Charitable giving is an incredible way to positively impact organizations, foundations, and causes near and dear to your heart. Whether philanthropy and charitable giving is a regular part of your life or whether you are considering it as an integral component of your Estate Plan after you pass away, charitable giving can be a wonderful way to leave a lasting legacy. When trying to decide how...

When we take vows with our spouse, the future and an inevitable loss of your loved one seems lightyears away. Years of marriage can entwine two people so that daily life becomes inconceivable without one another. From large decisions like building a home and raising a family, down to who holds the Netflix password or reminds the other to take their daily vitamin – spouses depend on each...

Jeff received his Bachelor of Arts degree from UCLA and earned his Juris Doctor from Pepperdine University, where he was a member of the international legal honor society Phi Delta Phi. Jeff devotes his practice at CunninghamLegal to estate planning and trust administration. He is currently working towards becoming a Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate law by the State...

Tasha Jahn grew up near San Jose, CA with her parents and siblings. From a young age, she loved music which led her to pursue her Bachelors in Music Business from the University of the Pacific, emphasizing in the Oboe. Immediately after she pursued her J.D. from Western State College of Law in Irvine, CA. After working in litigation and becoming a mother, Tasha decided that her educational...

With the number of older adults growing at unprecedented rates each year, communities must begin to direct more attention and resources to serve the needs of that group. In June 2019, a list created by the U.S. Senate committee and two Pennsylvania Senators, revealed over 400 of the nation’s lowest ranking nursing homes. These low rankings were due to the consistently poor health inspections....