Year: 2015
U.S. Presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) called for lowering the amount individuals can shield from the federal estate tax, and hiking estate tax rates across the board, as he introduced the Responsible Estate Tax Act. “This is a piece of legislation that addresses what I consider to be the most significant moral issue of […]
You’ve spent a lifetime building your estate. Now it’s time to decide how it will be distributed. Handing down your wealth is not as simple as writing a check or naming a beneficiary; you want to make the best decisions to preserve your financial legacy. Thomas Brockley, senior vice president and branch director at RBC […]
Being asked to serve as trustee of a family member’s trust might sound like an honor. It involves stepping into the shoes of the person who created the trust to play an important role. But is the role right for you? Are you up for the job? You may feel flattered if asked to serve […]
The Vanderbilt family has fallen into a full-blown public spat with the nonprofit organization that now owns their spectacular Rhode Island mansion called The Breakers. The Breakers is currently owned and maintained by the nonprofit Preservation Society of Newport that proposes to build a visitors center on a currently empty portion of the estate to […]
Unconfirmed reports point to a battle between the Houston family and Whitney’s ex-husband, Bobby Brown, over daughter Bobbi Kristina’s end-of-life care. Beyond moral considerations, however, there are tens of millions of dollars playing a behind-the-scenes role in the conflict. Whitney Houston’s will did not leave her daughter, Bobbi Kristina Brown, an inheritance in a single […]
The U.S. Wills Registry is an online service that offers to keep track of the location and holder of a will. Would you use this service? As reported by the Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog in a recent article titled “New Service to Track Location Of A Will,” the new U.S. Will Registry now […]
Wills occupy a curious place in our collective psyche. They are one of the oldest forms of legal document, having existed in written form since Anglo-Saxon times. They are, wrote Dickens, “the curious old records of likings and dislikings; of jealousies and revenges; of affection defying the power of death, and hatred pursued beyond the […]
An argument is being made that the “slayer” rule — which says you can’t murder someone and then inherit their money — be extended to lengths never seen in Missouri. Missouri prosecutors allege that in 2010 Kansas City attorney Susan Van Note entered her wealthy father’s lakefront home, then attacked him and his girlfriend Sharon […]
Aesop’s Fable of the hard working Ant and the all-play Cricket holds true for Individuals who inherit a great deal of wealth and just want to play. Most families include both types in all generations. A recent piece in Forbesdescribes two extremes seen in people who inherit large amounts of wealth. The article, “(Some) Inheritors […]
Selecting an individual to serve as a trustee is a challenging process, and the usual default is to a family member. But that’s not always the best solution. Here are some points to consider on the selection of a trustee. One of the toughest decisions in estate planning centers on selecting a trustworthy family member […]
