As Valentine’s Day approaches, I wanted to share all of the special moments I get to see.
Love yourself and those around you!
A celebration of love on the holiday of love. Images by Chloe Jackman Photography. Music by Lady Rizo
Alright folks, it’s time to have a serious conversation about your future…
Do you have an Estate Plan? For that matter did you even know you needed one? Maybe it’s been on your To-Do list but you just haven’t gotten around to it? I know I was pretty clueless about the topic before I met the fabulous Deidre Von Rock (yes, that is her real and so awesome name!), but what I’ve come to realize is that Estate Planning is as crucial as insurance. You need it and you really don’t want to wait until that’s the case. And with Same-Sex marriage legalized, it’s important to know your rights!
Thank you Deidre!!!
Enjoy!
Of all the New Year’s resolutions to keep, setting up an estate plan is far and away one of the most valuable things you can do for you and your family this year. This is particularly true for same-sex couples who in many states, including California, can now legally marry and be afforded equal treatment by the federal government for most estate purposes.
It is a common misconception that only the wealthy need to establish estate planning mechanisms like Wills and Trusts, but nothing could be further from the truth in California. Without a Will and Trust in place, any estate valued over $150,000 – i.e., anyone who owns a home in California – will automatically be subject to long, complicated and expensive proceedings the Probate Court. Once there, the value of your assets not set off by debt -meaning your home appraised at $1,000,000 , cheap by San Francisco standards – will be valued at $1,000,000 regardless of any mortgage. The fees and costs assessed by the probate laws and the Court on a $1,000,000 estate will average $50,000 and must be paid before probate can be closed. Alternately, if the assets had been put into a Trust during your lifetime, Probate Court could be avoided completely.
Without a Will in place, your assets will be distributed pursuant to the probate laws rather than to whom you wish. If a person dies and leaves a spouse and two children, the estate will be distributed ⅓ to the spouse and ⅔ to the children; hardly an appropriate outcome. If there is not a surviving parent of minor children, the Court will determine matters of guardianship in the absence of direction by a Will.
By taking control of your estate plan, you have a chance to establish a thoughtful, enforceable plan for your family in the event of your disability or death rather than leaving the future in the hands of the Courts. This opportunity is particularly important for same-sex spouses who only very recently have been permitted to plan for their families in the same considered and pro-active ways.
There are many more benefits to planning an estate, including the structuring of tax advantages, gift giving and philanthropy. Contact your legal and tax advisors to discuss just how valuable estate planning can be for you.
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About the Author With over 17 years of experience in the areas of business organization, transactions, real estate and estate planning matters, Deidre is prepared to not only offer the highest caliber of legal counsel, but to provide a team of professionals to guide and manage your affairs. By establishing a network of attorneys in a variety of practice areas and working alongside advisors in the financial, taxation, insurance, real estate and personal care arenas, Von Rock Law is equipped to offer global resources for your organizational and personal needs. Deidre graduated from San Diego State University with a B.A. in Political Science in 1993 and earned her Juris Doctorate from New England Law: Boston in 1996. A West Coast native, Deidre has resided in San Francisco since 1996. She is an active member of the St. Brendan parish and school communities and has contributed her talents to several charitable organizations. To learn more about Von Rock Law, visit www.vonrocklaw.com. |
From the second I sat down with these two, I knew I would like them! From our first conversation all the way to their wedding day, I was flat out in love. Especially when Bella told me that she would be wearing a gold wedding dress. GOLD!
Ben & Bella met at the Fishbowl, a small San Francisco bar, on January 2, 2009. That night Ben decided to tackle the bar’s jukebox and after some time, decided on Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire”. This song would later become the anthem to their relationship. Every anniversary Ben and Bella make sure to take the time to play their special song.
Ben and Bella had a stunning winter wedding filled with deep purples, reds and my very favorite color, gold. They wanted their first look to be at Warm Water Cove, a funky, industrial area in the Dogpatch. It was fabulous and oh so my style!
It was a perfect crisp November day for a wedding at Dogpatch Wineworks. The open space was warm with lots of great industrial details. When the time came for Bella to appear, she looked fabulous in her gold Notte by Marchesa wedding dress. Ben, wearing his Artful Gentlemen suit, couldn’t take his eyes off of her. Bella’s bridesmaids complimented the couple’s look by wearing deep purple Diane von Furstenberg dresses. When the time came for Ben and Bella to say I Do, the crowd cheered and prepared for the celebration to follow.
Before getting into the details, let me say that this sassy couple knows how to throw a rad party! The bride decorated the tables with centerpieces made from recycled beer bottles filled with flowers by Flowers by TAI and DIY table numbers. Food was the focus for this couple’s big day. Because Ben and Bella love tacos and had spent many mornings brunching at Tacolicious, they were thrilled to have their wedding catered by them. After endless amounts of tacos, guests indulged in the San Francisco favorite, It’s It’s in three different flavors!
When the time came, the newly weds stepped onto the dance floor and danced to their special song. Yes, you guessed it!: Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire”. When the song ended, guests joined them and rocked through the evening to tunes by DJ Jeremy.
Bella and Ben, wishing you many years of laughter, taco brunches, strong cocktails, adventures around the world and sweet evenings spent dancing to the ‘Ring of Fire’.
xo
Venue: Dogpatch WineWorks
Events@dogpatchwineworks.com
415-525-4440
Kevin ‘K2′ Monhollen
Caterer: Tacolicious
erin@tacolicious.com
650-380-6260
Erin Hargrave
DJ: DJ Jeremy
Jeremy@djjeremyproductions.com
510-390-2233
Jeremy Downing
Florist: Flowers by TAI
tai.ludnay@gmail.com
415.691.1143
Tai Ludnay
Bride’s Make-up: TBD
Transportation: Uber Black Car SUV
Wedding Dress Designer: Notte by Marchesa
Bridesmaid Dress Designer: Diane von Furstenberg
Shoes: TBD
Grooms Suit/Tux: Artful Gentlemen
jake@artfulgentlemen.com
415-527-7611
Jake Wall
Groomsmen Suit/Tux: Various Designers
