News

Attorneys Anjani Mandavia, Audrey Millemann and Marvin Gelfand filed a trademark action against Marvel Entertainment. The case has been reported in the following publications:

Law360: Luggage Co. Says Marvel’s ‘Avengers’ Box Set Rips Off Suitcase (Published August 3, 2012)

To read the full story, click the link above.

The Hollywood Reporter: Marvel Sued by Luggage Company Over ‘Avengers’ Box Set Packaging (Published August 3, 2012)

To the read the full story, visit www.hollywoodreporter.com.

Attorney Alan Grodin is named in Variety’s cover story about his client Doug Liman. To read the full story, visit www.variety.com.

Article published on July 25, 2012.

Sharing ownership of a vacation home can pose a dilemma. This week, Sacramento estate planning attorney Kay Brooks answers a reader’s question on that topic.

Q: My boyfriend and I recently purchased a vacation home. For now, the title is held in joint tenancy because we could not agree on what would be the fairest thing to do if one of us should die. We both have living trusts where each of our assets are transferred upon death. The problem is: My boyfriend wants his son to inherit his half of the property after he dies. I see potential problems in having to share ownership with his son. What if something happens and he needs money? Can he force me to sell the house or buy him out? I don’t think it’s fair that the son would be entitled to assets from the property just because he is kin. I would be the one paying the mortgage and keeping up with the maintenance. Can you offer any solutions so that both parties are satisfied? The son is currently 17 years old and my boyfriend is 20 years my senior. Thank you.

To read Kay Brooks answer, visit the Ask the Experts column here on Sacbee.com.

This week, Sacramento estate planning attorney Kay Brooks answers readers questions in the Sacramento Bee column “Ask the Experts.”

Q: I have a rental property valued at $265,000, the mortgage balance is $151,000 at 5.75%. I’m considering a loan to pay off this balance from my father’s living trust account, which is in excess of $400,000. I am the sole heir and these funds are just sitting in money market accounts making .25%! I would set up documents for the loan for tax purposes pay the monthly interest to my father’s account at 2.00% with a 5-year payback schedule. If my father passed, how would these funds $151,000 which would be outside the trust be viewed by the IRS? Is there an amount of money that can be outside the trust without being subject to probate or tax? – Walt, Sacramento, CA

To read Kay Brooks answer, visit the Ask the Expert column here on the Sacbee.com

This week, Sacramento estate planning attorney Kay Brooks answers readers questions in the Sacramento Bee column “Ask the Experts.”

Q: My boyfriend and I recently purchased a vacation home. For now, the title is held in joint tenancy because we could not come to an agreement as to what would be the fairest thing to do if one of us should die. We both have living trusts set up where each of our assets are transferred into upon death. The problem is that my boyfriend wants his son to inherit his half of the property after he dies.

I see potential problems in having to share ownership with his son. What if something happens to him and he needs money? Can he force me to sell the house or buy him out? I don’t think it’s fair to me that the son would be entitled to assets from the property just because he is kin. I would be the one paying the mortgage and keeping up with the maintenance. I am fine with leaving my half to my boyfriend, but he wants to revisit the lawyer in a few years and change the trusts so that his son has a stake in the house.

Can you offer any solutions so that both parties are satisfied? I should mention that the son is currently 17 years old and my boyfriend is 20 years my senior. Thank you for your time.

To read Kay Brooks answer, visit the Ask the Expert column here on the Sacbee.com

This week, Sacramento estate planning attorney Kay Brooks answers readers questions in the Sacramento Bee column “Ask the Experts.”

Q. I noticed that an earlier Bee column stated that $1,500 – $4,500 is the going rate for a will and trust; however, I have family members that claim that they have attorneys that can do it for as little as $750. Why the huge difference? – Bryan, Sacramento, CA

To read Kay Brooks answer, visit the Ask the Expert column here on the Sacbee.com.

Getting a living trust is on many people’s “must-do” lists. But what a living trust covers and how much it costs can be unknowns.

Here with some explanations is Sacramento estate planning attorney Kay Brooks with Weintraub Tobin Chediak Coleman Grodin Law Corp. She’s one of our local “Ask the Experts” panelists, who answer readers’ questions at www.sacbee.com/personalfinanceblog. That’s where you’ll find more of her advice, as well as tips from our other local experts on taxes, investing and personal finances.

Q: Approximately how much would I pay for a living trust, if my only asset is a duplex?

A: To read Kay Brooks’ answer, visit the Ask the Experts here on Sacbee.com.

The co-founder of Weintraub Tobin Chediak Coleman Grodin is re-branding himself as Joe The Mediator. Click above to view the full story.

The San Francisco Daily Journal addresses the merger between Weintraub Genshlea Chediak and Weissmann Wolff Bergman Coleman Grodin, LLP in this article, dated July 9, 2012.