Attorneys have long advised entire families with respect to their estate planning. Ethics require attorneys to maintain a duty of loyalty to each client they represent and fully advise their clients regarding the structures they are recommending. Sometimes even when the transaction works exactly as intended, lawyers get sued. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about How Estate Planning for a Family May Trap the Unwary Practitioner
Legal Education
Start 2022 the Right Way
The New Year gives us an opportunity to start fresh. If you don’t yet have an estate plan, now’s a great time to make an appointment with an Estate Planning attorney to talk about your goals and concerns. If you already have one, the New Year gives you an opportunity to review it to ensure that it still accomplishes your goals or to make any necessary changes. Read on to learn more … [Read more...] about Start 2022 the Right Way
The Evolution of our Unified Estate and Gift Tax System
Many individuals think that if their estate is below a certain amount that they need not be concerned with Estate Planning. As this article demonstrates, because the Estate Tax evolves constantly, it’s important to talk with a professional to create a plan to accomplish your goals. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about The Evolution of our Unified Estate and Gift Tax System
The Intersection of Legacy Contacts and Estate Planning
As more and more individuals get comfortable in the digital world, Estate Planning has changed to address the collection and transfer of digital assets. The widespread use of a legacy contact allows owners of digital content to determine what will happen with it after they die. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about The Intersection of Legacy Contacts and Estate Planning
Double Your Gifting with Spousal Gift-Splitting
As you plan your strategy for 2022, it’s important to consider gifting, including spousal gifts. Your spouse could double your ability to make gifts of “annual exclusions” without being considered to have made a gift for estate tax purposes. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Double Your Gifting with Spousal Gift-Splitting
Tax Planning for 2022
Planning is important for your income taxation during life as well as for any estate tax at death. Even though 2022 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 2022
Using Entities in Estate Planning
More and more families own property, assets, and businesses together. Using an entity to govern operations provides stability by allowing continued operation upon the death of an owner. When the governing agreement and estate planning documents of a deceased owner conflict, unintended, potentially litigious, results occur. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Using Entities in Estate Planning
The Sky Isn’t Falling
When we learned of the original provisions in the Build Back Better Act, many individuals panicked, rushing to complete Estate Planning or seeking to undo certain aspects of their estate plan. As the Build Back Better Act has evolved, many wondered if they should have waited before making significant changes to their estate plan. No matter what happens with the Build Back Better Act, an estate plan centered on long-term goals will serve you well. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about The Sky Isn’t Falling
Practical Lessons in Drafting
Individuals who undertake Estate Planning want to ensure that their plan works the way it’s intended. When clients neglect to consider Estate Planning on a regular basis, they set themselves up for failure. Waiting until an emergency arises almost guarantees that the plan will fail when needed the most. Estate Planning completed under duress can lead to unfavorable results. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Practical Lessons in Drafting
It’s Better to Give Than to Receive
Most taxpayers understand that to receive the benefit of charitable deductions, they need to itemize their income tax deductions. However, in the wake of the pandemic, Congress passed legislation allowing even those who take the standard income tax deduction to benefit from a charitable income tax deduction. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about It’s Better to Give Than to Receive