Far too many people die intestate, which means they pass on without a will. When this happens, their assets are dealt with in accordance with state intestate succession laws. In some cases, when an heir cannot be identified, it is possible for the state to claim these assets. You can easily avoid these problems by consulting an estate planning lawyer in Tracy or Livermore. Your estate planning attorney will carefully review your finances, offer sound recommendations, and provide you with all the information you need to make wise decisions for your heirs.

Will
A last will and testament is a crucial document to have, regardless of your health or age. As your circumstances change, you may wish to visit your lawyer to have your will revised. For example, if you have more children or if grandchildren are born, you may wish to adjust your will to reflect your new inheritance preferences. Your lawyer will draft your will for you to ensure that your assets are distributed in accordance with your wishes after you pass on. Your will can be as detailed as you like. For example, some people simply prefer to leave all their assets to their spouse, while others prefer to designate heirs for specific items. You might leave a valuable jewelry collection to a granddaughter, for example, and leave a vehicle to a sibling. You can also

Trust
Another basic component of estate planning is creating trusts. A living trust goes into effect during your lifetime, while a testamentary trust goes into effect after your death. You can transfer certain assets to a trust to protect them and reduce the tax burden. Trusts allow for the speedy distribution of assets to beneficiaries after a death. They may also place limitations on inheritances.

When you suffer harm because of another party’s negligent actions, you should make yourself aware of your legal options as soon as possible. If you are bringing a lawsuit in the aftermath of an injury, you may be wondering how personal injury damages are defined. As your injury lawyer in Tracy can explain to you, the compensation you will seek in your case depends on the nature of your injuries. These are the most common categories of damages in personal injury cases:

Health expenses. The party responsible for your injury should also be responsible for paying for your medical care. If you have been injured as a result of someone else’s negligence, you are entitled to compensation for all of your medical expenses, including hospital bills, physical therapy costs, home nursing care, medication bills, and transportation costs.

Lost wages. Oftentimes, an individual who has been injured will need to miss work—and thus lose out on potential earnings. You can seek compensation for lost wages or income, including loss of vacation days or sick time. In the event that you have been permanently disabled and prevented from returning to your job, you can sue for loss of your lifetime wages.

Pain and suffering. After an injury, you may have to endure a lengthy recovery period. You are entitled to compensation for the suffering you experience, including chronic pain and the amount of time it takes you to recover from your injury. Be sure to document your recovery, and save all of your doctor’s bills and other medical records.

Wrongful death. In the event that a loved one has died as a result of someone’s negligent actions, you may be entitled to sue for damages. The rules governing wrongful death lawsuits vary from state to state, so you should speak to a personal injury attorney as soon as possible to determine whether you have standing to sue.

For affluent Americans, the federal estate tax has long been a matter of significant concern. Just a decade ago, estates valued at $1.5 million or higher could be subjected to a federal estate tax of nearly 50 percent. The same applied to gift taxes made while the individual was alive. When they handled estate planning matters, couples often had to establish trusts to take advantage of the estate tax exemption. To make estate planning near Tracy and Manteca even more challenging, the federal estate tax fluctuated from year to year in a highly unpredictable manner.

Recently, however, Congress made a few changes that may make estate planning a little easier for many. The highest federal estate tax rate is now firmly set at 40 percent. Additionally, the estate tax exemption was raised to five million dollars per person, which is adjusted for inflation yearly. Rules regarding trusts have also been relaxed. To take full advantage of these changes, individuals can turn to an estate planning lawyer for guidance.