So many changes in the estate and the gift tax rules mean that it’s more important than ever to contemplate estate planning strategies. Trusts matter now more than ever because these are much more than tax planning vehicles for estate planning purposes.  Many people continue to struggle with the problem of determining how much is […]

In a sit-down conversation with an estate planning lawyer, you will want to have a sense of confidence and comfort in this person who will help steer you through the estate planning process.  An estate planning lawyer serves in numerous different roles and may have different practice areas to assist you with all of the […]

Untangling all of the aspects of your estate can be daunting for you but it can be even worse for your loved ones. You may pass away without leaving your executor or your family members with an updated and complete list of where all your materials are and how they can be accessed.  Think about […]

Unfortunately, plenty of people have not carried out the process of putting together an estate plan, assuming that they don’t need one or following some misconceptions about what truly happens to their belongings if they fail to plan.  It is a big misconception to think that the state takes over your assets if you pass […]

As we approach the end of the year, it’s a good opportunity to engage in the process of tax planning by speaking with your accountant and other retirement planning professionals. Tax planning can be instrumental in helping to reduce the total amount of money that you owe on your taxes. The prospect of reviewing your […]

As a parent it can be hard enough to look ahead to the future and consider that your child could be moving out of the house to go to college, join the military or take on a new job. But part of the estate planning process does consider when your child reaches the age of […]

The IRS recently announced their 2019 details about gift tax and estate tax limits. The official limits for 2019 increased the individual estate and gift tax exemption to $11.4 million per person up from $11.18 million in 2018.  This means that you are eligible to pass on up to $11.4 million to beneficiaries and heirs […]

Are you trying to decide who to appoint as your will executor in MS? This important decision could have ripple effects for your entire family, and deciding who to instill in this role is well worth taking some time.  Your MS estate planning lawyer can help you determine the role that a will executor will […]

Since the new tax laws in place doubled the standard deduction to $12,000 for single taxpayers and $24,000 for those married filing jointly, this means that you need to understand how this affects your itemized deduction planning. There are changes that repeal or limit many itemized deductions, such that in 2018, 90% of taxpayers will […]

Your estate planning documents certainly need to be updated after you get married for a second or third time, but have you overlooked this common mistake of failing to update your beneficiary designations.  Beneficiary designations outline how the property will pass to people on items such as your life insurance policy, your IRA and certain […]