When Congress finally passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act at the beginning of 2013, everyone was hopeful that the years of uncertainty about estate tax numbers was finally coming to an end. If President Obama gets his way, though, it’s likely that estate tax reform isn’t over yet. GRATs could be a big target here, [...]
Whether you’re an individual setting up your plans for your loved ones to receive assets after you pass away or a business owner trying to work through the basics of succession planning, this process goes far beyond just creating documents. One of the most common steps skipped in this process has to do with what [...]
Are you researching ways to pay for long-term care? Are you concerned that this added expense will bankrupt or place a huge burden on your entire family? Let’s talk about the issues at play when dealing with long-term care. You Have Questions Paying for long-term care is a valid concern and a huge issue. There [...]
Standard estate planning advice goes that you should at least have a will for estate planning purposes, but it’s imperative that you understand the importance of updating such a document, too. All too often, we encounter clients who have created a will but done so 10 or 20 years ago. The reason that this is [...]
A multigenerational IRA is one that allows an individual’s retirement plan to be “stretched” to first-generation beneficiaries as well as subsequent heirs. This is why it has gotten a nickname as the “stretch IRA”. There are some situations when it makes good sense to offer these assets to your loved ones, especially if you don’t [...]
For some reason, there’s a belief out there that Medicaid planning is against the law or in some way trying to circumvent the system. The reality is that this is not true at all. In fact, many attorneys and individuals invested in the Medicaid planning process have an expert level of knowledge about government regulations [...]
Although you won’t be around to witness it, a will dispute can be extremely frustrating for your family members. To the extent that you can, it’s a wise idea to set yourself up for success by limiting the opportunities for a will contest to emerge. Using a checklist is a good way to increase the [...]
When it comes to options for planning your estate, the revocable trust tends to be more flexible than other tools. You can change it over the course of your life or even destroy it if you want, which appeals to people who are not sure whether they want their wishes to be permanent. If you [...]
Think you don’t need estate planning because you’re not married or have no children? It’s a mistake to skip over this vital process, because every person should evaluate five possible tools that can help plan for the years ahead. These five documents are just the basics and it’s recommended that you meet with an estate [...]
As I speak with clients about their wills and trusts, I find that many people are confused about what a safe deposit box should be used for. I’ve created a video that will answer the three most common questions regarding safe deposit boxes: Do I need a safe deposit box? What should I keep in [...]
