The novel “coronavirus” (also called “SARS-CoV-2”) causes the disease “COVID-19.” It first appeared in late 2019 and was reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) on December 31, 2019. Here’s a link to the WHO’s site for the latest global information. COVID-19 has impacted the lives of millions of people and countless events around the world.The coronavirus has infected over four million people around the world, including over a million in the United States. It has killed over … [Read more...] about Avoiding Family Chaos in the Coronavirus Age
Estate Planning
Estate Planning: Where Do You Begin?
Far too many are completely unprepared from an estate planning perspective, and there are many reasons for this phenomenon. One of them is confusion-based procrastination. There are those that know that they should put an estate plan in place, but they simply do not know where to begin.Let’s look at the basic core components that should be included in any well-constructed estate plan.Asset Transfer VehicleThe first step is to decide on the optimal asset transfer vehicle. A lot of folks … [Read more...] about Estate Planning: Where Do You Begin?
Simplify the Estate Administration Process
When you think about estate planning, it can seem like the entire endeavor revolves around stating your wishes about the way that you want your assets to be distributed. This is certainly at the core, but you should also consider the administration process that will be initiated after your passing.Yes, you want to get assets into the hands of your loved ones in accordance with your wishes. At the same time, the way that this is done can vary depending on the choices that you make during the … [Read more...] about Simplify the Estate Administration Process
Why Would You Use an Irrevocable Trust?
People often harbor misconceptions about trusts. The first one is the idea that they are only useful for very wealthy individuals. This is true, but you have to take out the word “only.”There are a number of different trusts that can be utilized, and they serve varying purposes. Generally speaking, they are broken down into two broad categories: revocable and irrevocable trusts. Let’s look at the differences and why someone may want to use either type of trust.Irrevocable TrustsAs the … [Read more...] about Why Would You Use an Irrevocable Trust?
Why Do People Avoid Probate?
When a will is used to as a postmortem asset transfer vehicle, the executor that is named in the document would act as the administrator. This individual or entity cannot act in a vacuum. The will would be admitted to probate, and the court would provide supervision during this legal process.In California, there is are a couple of caveats to the above statement. Smaller estates that are valued at $166,250 or less can be administered through the utilization of a small estate affidavit or a … [Read more...] about Why Do People Avoid Probate?
Uncompensated Transfers
Medicaid is a state-federal partnership that provides medical benefit assistance to people who qualify, especially those over 65 years of age. However, in order to qualify, you also need to meet certain financial requirements such as asset limits. However, if you have made “uncompensated transfers,” that could lead to a period of disqualification from the program. Read on to learn more.Uncompensated Transfers … [Read more...] about Uncompensated Transfers
Irrevocable Medicaid Trusts
Medicaid is a state-federal partnership that provides medical benefit assistance to certain needy people, especially those over 65 years of age. However, you need to meet financial requirements such as asset limits to qualify. Assets in an irrevocable trust not for your benefit typically don’t count as available. Read on to learn more.Irrevocable Medicaid Trusts … [Read more...] about Irrevocable Medicaid Trusts
Low-Interest Loans: An Estate Planning Technique
The coronavirus has caused upheaval in society and the economy. But, this unique time also opens up opportunities in estate planning. Read on to learn more.Low-Interest Loans: An Estate Planning Technique … [Read more...] about Low-Interest Loans: An Estate Planning Technique
Keep Inheritances Safe With a Living Trust
There is no single universal approach to estate planning that is right for everyone. Since there are so many different strategies that can be implemented, you should really discuss your unique personal situation with a licensed estate planning lawyer.If you make the right choices from the outset, you can go forward with the knowledge that you are going to provide for all of your family members in the optimal manner. With this in mind, we will look at one of the major benefits that you would … [Read more...] about Keep Inheritances Safe With a Living Trust
Election Could Bring Estate Tax Changes
We are in an election year, and the two major parties see things differently when it comes to taxation. There’s been a lot of talk about taxing the very wealthy, and one way to do this would be to alter the parameters of the federal estate tax. Let’s look at the details.Estate Tax ExclusionThe key factor is the federal estate tax exclusion. This is the amount that can be transferred before the estate tax kicks in. When a new tax package was passed for the 2018 calendar year, the estate tax … [Read more...] about Election Could Bring Estate Tax Changes
