Category: Trusts
If you have property that you would like to be preserved, either for conservation or historic purposes, there is nothing so close to a free lunch as the donation of an easement. You may be entitled to a charitable contribution for the value of the easement. That, of course, is icing on the cake if […]
There’s never a good or easy time to talk with older parents about their finances and estate plans. But taking advantage of a relaxing moment –well before problems arise – can improve the odds of success. If you are heading out for vacation with your elderly loves ones, you may picture some relaxing time by […]
Only 17% of dog or cat owners have taken any legal steps to provide for pets’ care after their death, according to a recent survey by the ASPCA. Most people simply assume that a friend or relative will take care of their pet after they’re gone, animal advocates say, and many pets wind up in […]
WHEN James Gandolfini, one of the most recognizable actors of the last decade, died of a heart attack while on vacation last month, the response was as intense as you might have expected for the man who was Tony Soprano. But then something odd happened: a few weeks after he died, the discussion shifted to […]
Are the proceeds of life insurance policies owned first by a taxpayer’s wife and then owned by a family trust, includible in a taxpayer’s gross estate? The estate tax is currently set at a generous level, with married couples able to protect up to $10.5 million combined. So it can be enticing for many taxpayers […]
According to a recent WealthCounsel survey, 35 percent of people are crafting their estate plans to avoid mismanagement by their heirs. They are setting up trusts, naming third-party trustees to manage their bequests and delaying the age that heirs receive them. There are a number of hard questions when it comes to planning for your […]
