Law Offices of Samuel L. Birdsong

Law Offices of Samuel L. Birdsong Estate Planning attorney helping clients prepare Trusts, Wills and more to protect their family and

Tickets are now available for the Single Mothers Outreach 2022 Empowering Hearts Butterfly Ball, which is taking place o...
10/04/2022

Tickets are now available for the Single Mothers Outreach 2022 Empowering Hearts Butterfly Ball, which is taking place on Friday, October 28 at 6:00pm! This year will be a transformation from past events - you won't want to miss it!
You can buy tickets or sponsorships through the following link: https://one.bidpal.net/empoweringhearts2022/welcome
and there will be auction items available soon!

 

12/08/2021

What would you have to be paid in order to throw away your professional reputation over a thumbprint?

In Clive Cussler's Inca Gold, a man with an impeccable reputation finally found someone to meet his asking price of $10 million dollars to look the other way and tarnish his image. I don't know how much the notary in this story was paid to alter the decedent's trust, but I do know that it cost the notary their license - and set my client's family on an expensive path of litigation that took years to unwind.

When a parent is in a vulnerable position, whether a result of old age, illness, isolation, or more, the risk of bad acting individuals - including (sadly) other family members who can't resist the temptation - increases significantly. Remaining involved in your parent's situation can help reduce the risk of unauthorized changes taking place and a comprehensive estate plan can build in protectional safeguards to help.

12/06/2021

Of all the places people want their ashes to be kept after they pass, their lawyer's bookshelf has to be among the least desirable options.

In California, we have a tremendous amount of control over what happens after we die, from providing explicit instructions of what we want and who will take on the responsibility of carrying out our wishes.

Without having a plan in place, disputes between family members can keep our bodies in limbo - literally - while waiting for a legal battle to play out.

If you have a specific plan in mind and want to make sure it is followed, make those instructions a part of your estate plan to eliminate any confusion or arguments after you are gone.

12/03/2021

Doing something is usually better than doing nothing, right? Making small, incremental changes will add up over time.

In the world of estate planning, doing 'something' can have devastating unintended consequences, like leaving only 1% of your assets for your family and loved ones with no instructions for the remaining 99%!

Taking steps to eliminate uncertainty while you are still alive is easy; making corrections and explaining what you intended after you have died takes time, money, and stress - even when everyone agrees on what should have happened!

If you are not sure that your plan will accomplish your goals, reach out for a complimentary review of your current plan - let's give you the peace of mind that an estate plan should provide!

12/03/2021

Thankful Thursday post: Growing up as an Air Force brat, I have known for a long time that my upbringing didn't check the boxes for "normal" - I just didn't realize how much of a gift my parents gave me with the life experiences I took for granted.

A recent Forbes poll of Americans found that 40 percent of respondents had never left the country, and 11 percent had never even traveled outside of the state where they were born.

By the time I was eight years old my parents had introduced me to at least eleven countries in Western Europe, courtesy of a four year deployment in West Germany (yes, I'm old enough to have lived there when there was West Germany and East Germany), in addition to living in four different states (although I don't really remember much about Texas or Missouri). I have added a few more countries and states to those tallies, thanks to the travel bug and curiosity instilled by my parents.

Those experiences and cultures have shaped how I look at the world and have helped me understand the different backgrounds of my family, friends, and clients, and I can never thank my parents enough for that foundational gift.

12/01/2021

"Remember, tomorrow is promised to no one." - Walter Payton
"I intend to live forever. So far, so good." - Steven Wright

Finding time to create an estate plan never seems like a priority - we will take care of it later, once all of the other important things are done. If you were told that you only had one year to live, how long would you wait to put your plan into place for your family and loved ones?

How would your answer change if there was a chance that the diagnosis was wrong, and you only had days left instead?

Take the time to create a plan that reflects your wants and needs, especially if there are certain issues that require special attention or a specific distribution for a loved one. Being prepared is easier than you think and can give the peace of mind that your wishes will be followed as intended.

11/30/2021

In most situations, getting married changes the lives of both spouses in ways that they never would have imagined. But did you know that getting married after your estate plan is already in place can affect those carefully laid plans, pitting your new spouse against your intended beneficiaries?

Curious about how to avoid that unnecessary conflict? If you are getting married soon, or were just married, watch this video and see if your plans are at risk!

11/29/2021

Are you certain that your estate plan will properly follow your intentions? Check out this video where a grandfather's estate plan went to a very lucky grandchild instead of his children.

If you are curious about your own estate plan and want a second opinion, then let's connect to make sure that your intentions will be honored.

Here's more information about our event next Wednesday, August 11, 2021 at 6:00 pm!
08/03/2021

Here's more information about our event next Wednesday, August 11, 2021 at 6:00 pm!

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Newhall, CA
91355

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm

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