Estate Planning

Make Sure Your Family Transitions Prepare Your Children and Your Family for Financial Freedom.

Estate planning is far more complicated and involved than most people realize. If you don’t have a full understanding of your legal and financial rights, it is going to end up costing you… or your family… much more in the long run.

If you think you are too young to worry about estate planning, or perhaps you are waiting until you have more “estate” to bother with, think again. By planning now what happens to your estate in the event of your death, you will be left with the peace of mind that comes with knowing that you have provided to the best of your ability for your children and your family.

We can help. Our estate planning experts will get to know you and help you plan for the future based on your particular needs and situation. We are happy to discuss, recommend, and offer useful research tools which will help you get your estate in order so that those that follow you won’t be unduly burdened with taxes, probate courts, government bureaucracy, end-of-life costs and other problems relating to inheritance.

Questions you might need help answering…

  • How does divorce or multiple marriages affect estate planning?
  • What happens when heirs are too young to inherit?
  • Are there children from multiple marriages or individuals who might challenge or interfere with estate planning?
  • How can an inheritance be protected from creditors of an heir?
  • How can you pass along your estate with the minimum of tax liability involved?
  • Who needs to be on your estate planning team?
  • Do you have all the proper paperwork in order, including wills, power of attorney, healthcare directives, and trusts?
  • How will your estate be taken care of in the event that you are incapacitated?
  • What are the processes for amending your estate plans as your situation changes?
  • How can you leave money to charities or other organizations?

This is one area where a do-it-yourself mentality might not be to your greatest benefit. Let us help guide you through the complexities and challenges of estate planning that are unique to each individual case.

Let Us Help:

Season’s Greetings From Garrett & Associates, CPA

Season’s greetings from the Garrett & Associates, CPA team. For you and me both, this week can feel like a blur – trying to finish out last-minute year-end tax moves while making sure the books are wrapping up nicely. And while it’s rather fast-paced...

What Are The Year-End Tax Moves to Make Now For Inland Empire Business Owners?

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Big Beautiful Bill Details Inland Empire Business Owners Might Have Missed

 Key Takeaways The more favorable EBITDA-based business interest deduction limit is back for your 2025 tax year. (New restrictions are coming in 2026.) New R&E rules aren’t automatic. Retroactive benefits for 2022–2024 require elections, deadlines,...

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Inland Empire Small Business Holiday Expenses: What Can I Deduct On Taxes?

 Key TakeawaysCompany-wide holiday parties for employees are generally 100% deductible, as long as they’re not exclusive to owners or managers. Meals with clients are typically only 50% deductible, and entertainment remains 0% deductible. Employee gifts...

Can Inland Empire Investors Use Losses To Lower Capital Gains Federal Tax?

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Ursula Garrett’s Perspective: What Are The Most Important Cybersecurity Measures for Small Businesses?

 Key Takeaways Create a written data protection policy. Every employee should know the rules for handling sensitive data. Back up data regularly with secure cloud services or encrypted physical backups. Encrypt everything so stolen data is useless...

Can End-Of-The-Year Giving Mean Tax Deductions For My Inland Empire Business?

  Key Takeaways Your business can give back and receive tax benefits if the donation is correctly structured and documented. Charitable contributions to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations can be deductible, but how you claim the deduction depends on your business...

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit: Year-End Hiring Benefit for Inland Empire Businesses

 Key TakeawaysYes, the WOTC applies if you hire someone before December 31, 2025.  You must submit IRS Form 8850 to your State Workforce Agency (SWA) within 28 days of the new employee’s start date. The credit can be worth up to $2,400 per eligible...

Why Cash Flow Management Is Important At Year-End in Your Inland Empire Business

 Key Takeaways Profit doesn’t equal liquidity: You can look great on paper (i.e., profitable) and still run out of cash. Year-end cash flow management is about accelerating what comes in and strategically optimizing (delaying) what goes out (legally, of...

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