RJM LAWYER 

NOW, you might be too young, work too much, or just haven't had time to think about it, but there is something out there called "beneficiary designations" that you can use in lieu of a trust or will, and that will literally cost you nothing, other than half an hour of your time. Sound interesting? It should. Here's the breakdown: Beneficiary Designations go by many names: transfer on death (TOD), payable on death (POD), inheriting party, in trust for (ITF), etc. Whatev

Before I begin, I know I'm going to get FLAK for this blog. But that’s alright, as an attorney, getting flak comes with the job, and I'm good with that. Because at the end of the day, if some of you walk away from this blog a little more informed about PRENUPS, how they work, the likelihood you’ll ever need one, and whether they’re the right fit for you, well then I've done my job, and for me, that is the reward. Let me start by addressing the elephant in the room. YES, I un

"Life can feel like going up shit creek without a PADDLE!" -My younger self. Contrary to the foregoing, filing Chapter 7 Bankruptcy is not the worst thing in the world. In fact, it's not even that bad. "But wait," "Ruben-Have you lost your mind!? -Bankruptcy, not that bad, "What's the Catch?" No catch! Just FACTS. Foreword: A common misconception, and by common, I mean virtually everyone believes this, is that bankruptcy will existentially ruin them, and that life post-

"5-THINGS YOU DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT ESTATE PLANNING" READER WARNING: IF YOU ARE EASILY OFFENDED, OPEN-MINDED BUT ONLY WHEN IT ALIGNS WITH YOUR OPINION, AN IDEOLOGUE BUT NOT A GOOD ONE, OR THINK BAMBI'S MOM (SPOILER ALERT) SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN KILLED IN DISNEY'S CULT CLASSIC MOVIE ABOUT LOSS AND NEW BEGINNINGS, THEN YOU SHOULD STOP READING RIGHT NOW!......................................................... FOR EVERYONE ELSE, ENJOY! Foreword: As the title suggests, this BLOG

Is court a necessary evil? Maybe. But does that mean we have to like it?--Absolutely not! INTRO I have yet to meet someone that absolutely revels in the idea of a contentious no-holds-barred court battle! But Ruben, you're probably muttering, I've watched live court TV, read newspapers, and have even watched My Cousin Vinny (great movie by the way); I know to a mathematical certainty that lawyers love to argue and people are naturally litigious. Look, a broken clock is ri

Before we jump into the confusing and sometimes convoluted world of taxes, gains, and trusts; let's start with something easy, you know, like introducing ourselves. I'll start! My name is Ruben J. Martinez, and as many of you know I am RJM Lawyer. Practice wise, I do a lot of things, but mostly, I do estate planning. It's kind of my thing. Everything from the trendy living trust, to the refined family trust, to the special needs, medicaid protection, pets, and life insu

For starters, let's be clear! In no conceivable way, am I knocking sole-proprietorships ("SP"). That's not what this is about. For a lot of people- a SP makes sense. But they do have their short-comings, particularly, when it comes to liability. So with this in mind, please do not take this blog personal, if say, you're a gun-toting SP person. Lawsuits: Should you worry? LISTEN! IF your business is completely off-grid, and you don't expose yourself to the outside worl

Have you ever imagined what your worse case trademark scenario would be? Maybe you've heard of horrors stories; or perhaps you have had the actual misfortune of experiencing it yourself: the shock, gut-punch, tangy realization that all your hard work, may have been in vain. Hopefully, this is just an over-dramatization; and that you haven't actually had to endure this existential hell-storm. But for my client--this was all too real. So real, that I earmarked it, "THE TR

DISCLAIMER: As always, my blogs are aimed at providing general information, not legal advice. Always consult an attorney when making a decision as to legal matters. Enjoy! You just stamped, sealed, and dropped your letter off into the mailbox. Truth be told, you're feeling pretty good about the fact that that two-face double-crossing, good-for-nothing contractor is finally getting what he deserves. A mouth full of yours truly, right? Gosh it feels good , and why not? Yo

The power of perception plays a vital role in our society, both personally and professionally. Just think, in the first few seconds of...