Media
Michael Burstein Authors Article "What if your pet outlives you?" Published By the Santa Monica Daily Press
Over 60 percent of United States households have a pet. They are an integral part of most homes and in many cases quickly become a member of the family. Over the last 10 years, people have become more concerned about the fate of their pets. This has resulted in states passing laws that allow for the creation of pet trusts so estate planning attorneys can ensure people’s pets are taken care of post-death.
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Michael Burstein Authors Article "What You Should Know About Estate Taxes" Published By the Los Angeles Daily Journal
Burstein Law founding partner Michael Burstein has written an article for the Los Angeles Daily Journal, "What You Should Know About Estate Taxes," that explains the temporary-but significant-changes that the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 made to the estate tax. The law, among other things, raised the applicable exclusion amount to $5 million, increased the amount an individual can gift during his or her lifetime to $5 million and lowered the top estate tax rate to 35 percent until 2012's end. Mr. Burstein further noted, "2011 and 2012 do provide some unique opportunities to make gifts, including generation skipping gifts.
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Michael Burstein Authors Article “Bequests to Non-related Caregivers” Published by Trusts & Estates Magazine
Michael Burstein, founding partner of Burstein Law Firm, has authored an article published by Trusts & Estates magazine titled, “Bequests to Non-related Caregivers,” discussing new provisions in the California Probate Code which emphasize the need for attorneys to take great care when drafting gifting documents to caregivers. The amended clauses clarify and strengthen laws pertaining to “the bequeath in a will, trust or other estate planning document of a gift to a non-related caregiver.” Mr. Burstein concludes that “[w]hen a client expresses a desire to bequeath a gift of appreciation to a non-related caregiver, [estate lawyers] must tread carefully and apply the appropriate laws and statutes to the letter.
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Michael Burstein Featured in Article Published by OurSouthBay.com and OurWestSide.com
Michael Burstein, founding partner of Burstein Law Firm, was featured in a recent article published by OurSouthBay.com and OurWestSide.com. The article discusses Mr. Burstein’s life, interests, and firm, including what he loves most about where he lives and the most rewarding aspects of his practice. For him, the best part of practicing estate planning law is the gratitude he receives from satisfied clients, “and being told that it was much easier than [the client] thought.” In addition, Mr. Burstein said that “[w]e take pride in creating solutions that allow our clients to control their assets while they are alive, while ultimately distributing their estates to whom they want as economically and efficiently as possible.
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