The Top 10 Things to Know About Estate Planning
Many people are often confused by Estate Planning. Here is a list of the top things to know about Estate Planning.
The Debate Continues and the Future of the Estate Tax Remains Uncertain
This article discusses the uncertainty created by EGTRRA and the likelihood (or lack thereof) of a fix from Congress in 2008. The article discusses the arguments for and against the complete repeal of the estate tax and the likelihood that Congress will not act until after a new President is elected. The article closes by encouraging consumers to see an experienced estate planning attorney for their needs.
Protecting Your Children from Our Litigious Society
How can you protect your children and their inheritance from litigation? This article explains how some innovative trust, the Family Sentry Trust and the Family Access Trust can help.
The Choice Is Yours: Don't Lose Your Chance to Make It
The article examines two cases: Terri Schiavo and Sarah Scantlin. Neither expressed their end of life decisions. Terri had her feeding tube removed after 15 years. Sarah awoke from her coma after 20 years. The article calls the reader to express their own desires in a Living Will.
To Roth or Not to Roth, That is the Question
The article examines the Roth IRA and recent developments that have expanded the concept, such as the Roth 401(k) and the ability to convert from a regular IRA in 2010.
Planning: Just Do It!
This article looks at what happens if no planning is done. It looks at the problems of probate if no trust is done and of intestacy if no will is done.
Want Privacy? Use a Trust
Wills without trusts are open to public scrutiny. The article examines why the client may not want this public scrutiny. Further, the article looks at 8 provisions in famous people's wills which all are a matter of public record.
I Know Trusts Are Useful – But How Are They Taxed?
As most people have heard, trusts are perhaps the most useful tool in estate planning. They help manage assets during life and long after we are gone.
The Hottest Trick in Estate Planning, Thanks Wal-Mart!
There is a little known estate planning technique that wealthy clients are lining up to hear about. It works well in a low interest rate environment, especially when stocks are down in value. It is called a Grantor Retained Annuity Trust or “GRAT.”
Family Trusts: Skipping Taxes and Generations
Should your generosity be passed along to future family generations with or without a trust? Increasingly, estate planning attorneys and their clients are considering that question.
Basic Estate Planning for Unmarried Couples
The estate planning concerns of unmarried partners are very similar to the concerns of married partners. They are: (1) providing economic protection for the surviving partner; (2) providing for family members at the death of the surviving partner while paying as little as possible in estate taxes; (3) asset protection for the surviving partner, including protecting the surviving partner from creditors and lawsuits; (4) meeting the surviving partner’s future medical costs; and (5) protecting the property from the surviving partner’s inability or inexperience in managing money.
Home Free with the Qualified Personal Residence Trust
Home owners can give their homes away, capture tax advantages, and continue to live in their homes for as long as they want, all thanks to the Qualified Personal Residence Trust. How this estate planning strategy works and who should consider it is discussed in this article.
When Do-It-Yourself Estate Planners Have Fools for Clients
As a growing number of Americans use software or do-it-yourself kits to do their own esate planning, many are finding that the end results are far from what they'd hoped. With several real-life case studies of do-it-yourself disasters, this article addresses the problems that consumers face when they try to avoid legal counsel for this most important task.
Getting the Most out of Your Life Insurance: Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts
How the ILIT helps consumers get greatest benefit and control out of their life insurance policy with this estate plainning versatile tool is the focus of this article.
