Nov 18th 11 Posted by Robert Mansour

protect your family

If you don’t have an estate plan for your family, there are five things you can do for free to make sure you at least have some basic tools in place. 1.        If you don’t even have a will, download a free will form from the California Bar Association (www.CalBar.org).  It’s better than nothing, and if you can’t find the form, just call my office and we will send you the... read more

Sep 16th 11 Posted by Robert Mansour

health care directives

When it comes to estate planning, I often use the analogy of a toolbox.  I explained to my clients that when something goes wrong in their home, they generally go to the garage and get their toolbox.  From the toolbox, they will grab the appropriate tools to fix whatever problem occurred in the house.  Therefore, if a picture fell from the wall, they might grab a hammer, some nails, a tape measure, and... read more

Aug 25th 11 Posted by Robert Mansour

health care quarterback

When it comes to estate planning, I often use the analogy of a toolbox. I explained to my clients that when something goes wrong in their home, the generally go to the garage and get their toolbox. From the toolbox, they will grab the appropriate tools to fix whatever problem occurred in the house. Therefore, if a picture fell from the wall, they might grab a hammer, some nails, a tape measure, and... read more

Jun 28th 11 Posted by Robert Mansour

gotta game plan?

Planning your estate is like creating a great “game plan” for your family.  Imagine if you were on a sports team that didn’t have a coach, never practiced, never discussed anything at all….entirely without a game plan!  How comfortable would you feel taking the field against your well-prepared opponent?  In many ways, your family is your “team.”  Life is “the game.” Have you... read more

May 19th 11 Posted by Robert Mansour

they’re watching you!

Be careful. They are watching you! As many of you know, I not only practice wills & trusts, but a portion of my practice is dedicated to personal injury law. Insurance companies have a new friend on their side – the social networking system! Now more than ever, insurance adjusters are researching plaintiffs on the internet. Go ahead and type your name in the Google search box and see what happens.... read more

Mar 22nd 11 Posted by Robert Mansour

when do i need an attorney?

As many of you know, I not only handle wills and trusts, but I also handle personal injury cases.   When it comes to car accident cases, or other injury cases, there are times when involving an attorney doesn’t really add value to your case.   When a client contacts my office, there are several things that I discuss with them.  Sometimes, I tell the client they are better off without a lawyer.  ... read more

Feb 16th 11 Posted by Robert Mansour

who’s a bonehead?

When working on an estate plan with my clients, the most interesting part of the discussion is often about who gets to inherit from them.  It can also get very complicated.  Most clients choose to give their estate to their children (in equal shares if there is more than one child).  It all seems so easy. We have to be mindful if children are minors because giving assets outright to minors is often a... read more

Jan 4th 11 Posted by Robert Mansour

forget dieting this year

It is definitely time to make your New Year’s Resolution if you haven’t already done so.  Instead of losing weight, exercising more, and other “cliché” resolutions, try this:  “This year, I will create an estate plan for me and my family!”  So forget about the diet this year, and instead, draft some legal documents that will be helpful to you and your family. Instead of pulling a muscle by... read more