The escapades of the rich and famous can be entertaining to watch from a distance; however, we can also learn valuable lessons from celebrity mistakes. With that in mind, the Grand Forks estate planning attorneys at German Law offer some celebrity estate planning lessons you should not ignore. Lessons to Learn The following celebrities left behind estates that were riddled with legal and financial problems because of the estate planning mistakes they made: Contact a Grand Forks Estate … [Read more...] about Estate Planning Lessons You Should Not Ignore
Is My Stretch IRA Still Alive After Passage of the SECURE Act?
Although workers could once depend on pensions, few employers today offer pension benefits to employees. Making things worse is the fact that Social Security retirement benefits have not kept up with the cost of living. Consequently, many workers contribute to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) during their working years to ensure they have sufficient assets available when they retire. If your IRA is a “stretch IRA” it is crucial to understand how the recently enacted SECURE Act impacts that … [Read more...] about Is My Stretch IRA Still Alive After Passage of the SECURE Act?
Estate Planning Steps for the Beginner
If you are new to the concept of estate planning, it can seem a bit intimidating the first time around given all the various goals and objectives that are frequently rolled into an estate plan. The good news is that working with an experienced estate planning attorney will go a long way toward ensuring that your plan does accomplish all of those goals and objectives. Your estate planning attorney can also help explain the process and make you feel less intimidated. Before you even get to your … [Read more...] about Estate Planning Steps for the Beginner
Why Single Adults Need an Estate Plan
A common misconception about estate planning is that you do not need an estate plan until you marry and/or become a parent. This simply is not the case. Every adult can benefit from having an estate plan in place, even single adults without children. The Grand Forks estate planning attorneys at German Law explain why you do need an estate plan if you are single. An Estate Plan Does More Than You Realize One reason that so many people think an estate plan is not necessary for a single adult … [Read more...] about Why Single Adults Need an Estate Plan
Tips to Help Prevent Estate Disputes
Your estate plan is your opportunity to put down in writing what you wish to happen to your estate assets after you are gone. For most people, one of the strongest motivations for having an estate plan in place is to ensure that those wishes are honored. Unfortunately, the law does allow certain people to challenge the Last Will and Testament that you execute. Because a Will contest is only initiated after your death, you cannot defend your Will if one is filed. There are, however, some … [Read more...] about Tips to Help Prevent Estate Disputes
Do I Need an Attorney to Make a Basic Will?
For the average person, the first step in creating an estate plan is drafting and executing a Last Will and Testament. If you are just now contemplating the steps you need to take to get started on your first estate plan, you may be tempted to try taking a shortcut that includes using a "Do It Yourself" (DIY) Will instead of working with an experienced estate planning attorney. Doing so will save you both time and money and finally get your estate plan started, right? It’s just a simple Will … [Read more...] about Do I Need an Attorney to Make a Basic Will?
Pondering Portability
The Internal Revenue Code grants spouses several tax benefits both during life and at death. Portability represents one of those benefits. Portability allows the surviving spouse to use the unused portion of the Applicable Exclusion Amount from their predeceased spouse. In Revenue Procedure 2022-32, the Internal Revenue Service extended the time during which a surviving spouse may elect portability without a Private Letter Ruling from two years to five years. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Pondering Portability
What the Proposed Treasury Regulations Mean for Deductions Under Internal Revenue Code Section 2053
To determine a decedent’s taxable estate, the Internal Revenue Code allows the decedent’s estate to utilize several deductions in various Code Sections, including Section 2053. The Treasury Regulations associated with Section 2053 were favorable to the taxpayer and contained broad language regarding the deductibility of claims and expenses. Recently, the Internal Revenue Service promulgated Proposed Treasury Regulations that would narrow the benefit of taking certain deductions to an estate. … [Read more...] about What the Proposed Treasury Regulations Mean for Deductions Under Internal Revenue Code Section 2053
Discharge of Indebtedness Income and Student Loan Forgiveness
While many taxpayers may be excited about the prospect of reduced loan balances as part of Biden’s Loan Forgiveness Program, they may have questions about the potential tax consequences of that forgiveness. Under normal circumstances, creditors that discharge debt issue a corresponding Form 1099-C Cancellation of Debt to the debtor for inclusion in that year’s income. While the administration works out the kinks in the loan forgiveness plan, it’s important to understand the current provisions of … [Read more...] about Discharge of Indebtedness Income and Student Loan Forgiveness
Death and Your Digital Footprint
As more and more individuals get comfortable in the digital world, Estate Planning has evolved to address the collection and transfer of digital assets. The widespread use of a legacy contact and password managers gives owners of digital content control in determining what happens to the digital information after they die. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Death and Your Digital Footprint
