The Internal Revenue Code assesses a tax (gift or estate) on the transfer of money or property from one person to another during life or at death, with some exceptions. If you own accounts or property that are worth a lot of money and you expect them to continue to...
Month: May 2024
What Happens to An Adult Child Living at Home When Their Parents Pass Away?
Today more young adults are living at home with their parents than at any time since the 1940s. While there are many different opinions about this trend and the cause of its recent prevalence, the primary motivation for young adults staying at home with their parents...
What Does SECURE 2.0 Have to Do with 529 Plans
By now, you have likely heard about the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 (SECURE Act) and the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023). These pieces of legislation were created to encourage Americans...
What Can I Not Do as Trustmaker and Trustee of a Revocable Living Trust?
Wills and living trusts are two of the most fundamental estate planning documents. While both accomplish the same primary objective in an estate plan of directing the distributions of your money and property to your desired beneficiaries after you pass away, a...
Qualified Domestic Trusts: Your Jumpstart to Protecting Your Noncitizen Spouse
Married couples love each other and want the best for each other. Establishing a comprehensive estate plan is one way to provide the best for each other. Not only does an estate plan protect you when you are unable to care for yourself during your lifetime, but it...
Lucille Ball: Dangers of Being the First to Die
Lucille Ball was the queen of television comedy to an older generation of Americans. Today, more than 70 years after I Love Lucy premiered, reruns still air on late-night networks, making it the longest-broadcasted TV show of all time and endearing Ball to a new...
Estate Planning Lessons We Can Learn from These Famous Moms
Gloria Vanderbilt: No Trust Fund Kids for Her We are at the precipice of what is being called “The Greatest Wealth Transfer in History,” as baby boomers are set to pass down $84 trillion to younger generations.1 Every parent wants to see their children succeed. But...
Aretha Franklin: Too Much Estate Planning
Too little estate planning can put your heirs in a bind and tie up your estate in time-consuming and costly probate litigation. But as the legal saga of Aretha Franklin’s estate shows, too much estate planning—in particular, planning that introduces uncertainty about...