Category: Trusts
“Vacation property can become a family legacy. Keeping your cabin, fishing lodge, hunting property or other special assets separate for future generations is often a special goal for a family.” There are several ways to protect a vacation home so it remains in the family and is not overly burdensome to any one member or […]
“Increasingly, financial advisors are working with clients from nontraditional families, which can sometimes require different or additional strategies to protect their assets and achieve their financial goals.” Seniors who are married to younger spouses have a special situation for estate planning, a situation that’s become more common, according to Barron’s recent article “Couples with Big […]
“The person signing the power of attorney, which gives someone else the authority to act for them, is called the ‘principal’ and the person who is given the power to act for you is called your ‘agent.’” Power of attorney is an important tool in estate planning. The recent article “Top Ten Facts About Powers […]
“The press has made much of the handwritten will that Larry King executed in the months before he died and in which he purports to change his prior will executed in 2015, to leave his estate equally between his children.” The dispute over Larry King’s estate shines a harsh spotlight on what happens when an […]
“When you hear the word trust fund, you might think of the uber-wealthy giving their kids a big chunk of cash on their 25th birthday. However, trust funds aren’t just for the rich.” A trust fund is an estate planning tool that can be used by anyone who wishes to pass their property to individuals, […]
“Ever since a group of philanthropists created the Giving Pledge in 2010, taxpayers have expressed greater interest in potential estate planning strategies that would allow them to leave a significant portion of their assets to charity upon their death.” The interest in charitable giving increased in 2020 for two reasons. One was a dramatic increase […]
“In addition to deciding who gets what when you die, you have key roles to fill that deserve thoughtful deliberation as part of the estate-planning process, experts say.” Spending the least amount of time possible contemplating your death is what most people try to do. However, one part of the estate planning process needs time […]
“Although most assets in your estate may pass through the probate process, other assets may not. It often depends on the type of asset or how an asset is titled.” Probate is a court-supervised process occurring after your death. It takes place in the state where you were a resident at the time of your […]
“While most initial meetings with an estate planning attorney will result in some questions you likely have never considered, there are many ways in which you can prepare for a thoughtful and productive estate planning conference that will result in a better understanding of your goals and more efficient use of time with your attorney.” […]
“Although uncertainty surrounding the likelihood of tax reform continues for the moment, there are still several wealth transfer strategies that can be considered by those wanting to make gifts.” The uncertainty surrounding the election and possibility of changes to the tax law led many families to make substantial wealth transfers in 2020, especially as the […]
