The pandemic has been difficult for many of us, including some Estate Planning attorneys. Sometimes it’s difficult to follow all the news. But, there’s little-known pandemic relief for employers struggling from the pandemic. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Pandemic Relief for Employers
Updating Your Plan: Powers of Attorney
As we approach the end of the year, it’s a good time to think about updating your plan. This includes your entire plan, including Powers of Attorney. Powers of Attorney are part of even the simplest estate plan. A Power of Attorney allows your Agent to act for you. There are Powers of Attorney for financial matters and also those for health care. It’s important to consider whether you need to update either of these powers. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Updating Your Plan: Powers of Attorney
Updating Your Plan: Your Trust or Will
As we approach the end of the year, it’s a good time to think about updating your plan. This includes your entire plan, including your primary vehicle, such as a trust or will. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Updating Your Plan: Your Trust or Will
Tax Planning for 2021
Planning is important for your income taxation during life as well as for any estate tax at death. Even though 2021 is just starting, it’s not too early to think about planning for whatever it may bring your way. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Tax Planning for 2021
Updating Your Plan: Beneficiary Designations
As we approach the end of the year, it’s a good time to think about updating your plan. This includes your entire plan, including beneficiary designations. Beneficiary designations may control a large part of your assets and it’s important to be sure your plan is coordinated to consider these. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Updating Your Plan: Beneficiary Designations
Staying Current is Especially Important in the Pandemic
A Health Care Power of Attorney appoints someone to make decisions for you if you’re not able to do so for yourself. An Advance Directive expresses your wishes regarding end-of-life decisions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to have them up-to-date. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Staying Current is Especially Important in the Pandemic
Gift Tax 101
In order to understand the gift tax, you have to absorb some background information about the federal estate tax. This levy carries a 40 percent maximum rate, so it can significantly impact your legacy if you are exposed. The good news is that most people don’t pay the tax, because there is a high credit or exclusion. This is the amount that can be transferred before the estate tax would be applied on the remainder. At the time of this writing, the exclusion is $11.58 million. You do not … [Read more...] about Gift Tax 101
Will vs. Trust: How Do You Choose?
Many people think that estate planning is a very simple matter. When you are senior citizen, you record your final wishes in a last will, and that’s the end of the story. In reality, this is a gross oversimplification on a couple of different levels. First, estate planning is one of the core responsibilities of adulthood. You should put your estate plan in place as soon as you have other people depending on you for financial support. In fact, it can be argued that it is even more important … [Read more...] about Will vs. Trust: How Do You Choose?
Remarry With Peace of Mind
The estate planning attorneys at our firm have many tools at our disposal. There are countless different scenarios that can exist, and we have seen all of them over the years. Our experience allows us to immediately recommend the appropriate solution for each respective client that we counsel. In many cases, they are very pleasantly surprised to find out that the perfect estate planning vehicle exists to satisfy objectives that seemed complicated to them. With this in mind, let’s look at the … [Read more...] about Remarry With Peace of Mind
Clearing Up Inheritance Planning Misconceptions
A lot of people make inheritance planning mistakes because they harbor certain misconceptions. In this post, we will look at a few common misconceptions so you can go forward with sound information. Trusts are only useful for wealthy people. Very high net worth individuals have to be concerned about the federal estate tax, because it carries a whopping 40 percent maximum rate. These people utilize irrevocable trusts to mitigate their exposure. This being stated, the revocable living trust … [Read more...] about Clearing Up Inheritance Planning Misconceptions