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
The Intersection of Asset Protection Planning and Estate Planning – Part II
As part of the Estate Planning process, an attorney explores numerous topics with the client to help create a unique plan tailored to the client’s circumstances. Many estate plans use a trust as the centerpiece of the plan. Some clients want to explore asset protection and let the attorney know they want to consider offshore planning. Sometimes, offshore planning works, but often it causes additional issues. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about The Intersection of Asset Protection Planning and Estate Planning – Part II
The Intersection of Asset Protection Planning and Estate Planning – Part I
As part of the Estate Planning process, an attorney explores numerous topics with the client to help create a unique plan tailored to the client’s circumstances. Many estate plans use a trust as the centerpiece of the plan. Inevitably, clients want to understand the degree, if any, of asset protection that will result from the creation of a trust. There are numerous ways to achieve asset protection planning for a client. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about The Intersection of Asset Protection Planning and Estate Planning – Part I
Updating Your Life Insurance
Life insurance plays a significant role in many estate plans. You may have purchased life insurance when you were younger, and then not revisited the issue for years. At this point, you may need to update your life insurance. With that in mind, the Grand Forks estate planning attorneys at German Law explain what is involved in updating your life insurance. Do You Have the Right Type of Life Insurance? There are several types of life insurance policies that all offer advantages and … [Read more...] about Updating Your Life Insurance
