Estate planning attorneys need to understand and explain taxation of trusts in order to properly advise clients. Individual clients need to understand the implications of the plan their attorney suggests in order to properly file their own taxes. Determining whether a trust qualifies as a grantor trust or a non-grantor trust is the first step in determining tax liability for a particular year. Read on to learn more … [Read more...] about Let’s Talk about Trusts…and Taxation
Business Succession Planning May Be Easier than You Think
Many Estate Planning attorneys shy away from business succession planning, but if you approach it like you do any other asset, it’s not so scary! First, it’s important to understand that the entities involve not just the business relationship, but family relationships as well. Often, businesses start with one or two members of a senior generation who have the funds, desire, and connections to create the business. It’s not always clear, though, what will happen when that senior generation … [Read more...] about Business Succession Planning May Be Easier than You Think
Estate Planning – Something You Shouldn’t Do Yourself
It’s tempting to think that by taking the time to hand-write your Will or preparing a do-it-yourself plan, you can avoid many of the issues that arise with a Will. In fact, the opposite may be true. By handwriting your Will or preparing a do-it-yourself plan, you may be creating more issues for your family. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Estate Planning – Something You Shouldn’t Do Yourself
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
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
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
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
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
ABLE Accounts Complement Special Needs Trusts
ABLE accounts are a nice, flexible way to supplement the usefulness of a Special Needs Trust. But certain limits apply. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about ABLE Accounts Complement Special Needs Trusts
How Using Specific Bequests Could Cost Beneficiaries their Inheritance
Parents often decide to leave one child a specific asset and provide an equalizing cash bequest to the other. This article explores how specific bequests may provide unintended results. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about How Using Specific Bequests Could Cost Beneficiaries their Inheritance
