As year-end approaches, many individuals look for ways to lower their income tax burden. Charitable contributions allow individuals to offset a portion of their income, but not all charitable contributions are created equally, and each has certain requirements to obtain the charitable deduction. Certain charitable-giving vehicles allow a donor to get more bang for their buck. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about It’s a Great Time to Consider a Donor Advised Fund
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The Seedier Side of the Holiday Season
Scammers will use any leverage possible to separate you from your money. This includes preying upon a grandparent’s love and concern for their grandchildren. The so-called grandparent scams are among the most popular scams targeting the elderly and rely upon details gleaned from social media sites to make the call seem realistic. It’s important to recognize the signs of potential scams and understand how to guard against them. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about The Seedier Side of the Holiday Season
Don’t Be a Turkey – Take Advantage of Your Annual Per Donee Exclusion Amount
The holidays are a great time to review the past year and make plans for the upcoming one. Part of those plans should be reviewing your Estate Plan and considering what if any, steps you should take to help you achieve your goals. One of the easiest, but most overlooked, ways to do some quick planning is to take advantage of the annual per donee exclusion amount which can have a tremendous impact on reducing the estate without use of the applicable exclusion amount. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Don’t Be a Turkey – Take Advantage of Your Annual Per Donee Exclusion Amount
Understanding the Interplay of State Estate and Inheritance Taxes with Federal Estate Tax
When individuals consider estate planning, they often look to federal law to determine the potential tax ramifications for their estate and beneficiaries. Some may neglect to consider the impact of state estate taxes which vary widely from state to state. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Understanding the Interplay of State Estate and Inheritance Taxes with Federal Estate Tax
Exploring Elder Abuse
As seniors live longer and technology makes it easier for everyone to stay connected, elder abuse continues to rise. Estate planning attorneys may find themselves on the front-line of these matters. Because elder abuse takes on many forms, it’s important for practitioners and consumers alike to have the skills necessary to recognize the signs of elder abuse. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Exploring Elder Abuse
Let’s Talk Litigation
Anyone creating an Estate Plan wants to ensure that the plan will work as intended and will withstand legal challenges. Sometimes though, a legal challenge is necessary to ensure that the Estate Plan reflects the true intent of the decedent is carried out and that the fiduciaries act in accordance with their duties. This article examines the most common ways that litigation arises in the Trusts and Estates arena. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Let’s Talk Litigation
The Horrors of Dying Intestate
Many souls believe that if they lack means, they do not need an Estate Plan. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you die without an Estate Plan, it’s like opting for a trick on Halloween and the results of both can be downright scary. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about The Horrors of Dying Intestate
The Magic of Grantor Trusts
Grantor trusts are a particularly powerful tool in estate planning. They allow the taxpayer to remove assets from their taxable estate, while those assets can grow tax-free because the grantor is paying the income tax for the trust. Read on to learn more about the magic of grantor trusts. … [Read more...] about The Magic of Grantor Trusts
Exploring the Many Issues Surrounding the Estate and Trust of Richard Blum – Part III
Every state that recognizes trusts as a legal entity imposes fiduciary duties upon the Trustee of such trust. These duties may have different names in different jurisdictions, but ultimately a breach of fiduciary duties means that the Trustee has failed to do what is required of them under the terms of the trust instrument and local law. This third and final part of a three-part series examines a case ripped from the headlines that highlights what happens when plans go awry. Read on to learn … [Read more...] about Exploring the Many Issues Surrounding the Estate and Trust of Richard Blum – Part III
Exploring the Many Issues Surrounding the Estate and Trust of Richard Blum – Part II
Every state that recognizes trusts as a legal entity imposes fiduciary duties upon the Trustee of such trust. These duties may have different names in different jurisdictions, but ultimately a breach of fiduciary duties means that the Trustee has failed to do what is required of them under the terms of the trust instrument and local law. This second part of a three-part series examines a case ripped from the headlines that highlights what happens when plans go awry. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Exploring the Many Issues Surrounding the Estate and Trust of Richard Blum – Part II
