Want a nude funeral? It's a question you may not have thought about prior to this. In this article, we share our thoughts on nude funerals and what you should know if you're interested in doing this. Some of us have very specific ideas about events in our lives. We want our wedding just so. Perhaps it is an outdoor ceremony by the ocean or a Las Vegas ceremony presided over by a pseudo-Elvis. And, nobody is going to stop us from having it our way, assuming we can find a partner who will … [Read more...] about Want a Nude Funeral? Have it Your Way
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Understanding Undue Influence – Part II
Whenever a client’s Estate Plan deviates from the expected disposition, it raises questions for the slighted beneficiaries. These questions usually revolve around methods to have the plan overturned. Most states give clients tools to protect their carefully crafted plans, even after their death. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Understanding Undue Influence – Part II
New State, New Estate Plan?
You did the responsible, prudent thing to do: you consulted with an estate planning attorney and did an estate plan. You have a health care power of attorney, a financial power of attorney, a pourover will, and a revocable living trust. You even funded your assets into the trust so that they would avoid probate. But, now you are moving across country and are wondering how this move impacts on your estate plan. The documents you signed prior to moving to another state are usually still … [Read more...] about New State, New Estate Plan?
When Disaster Strikes
Learn how power of attorney documents can help you be prepared. The specter of disaster haunts each of us, in the back of our minds. Some disasters are more likely to occur in some places than others. Whether it is hurricanes on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, earthquakes on the west coast, tornadoes in the Midwest, or a more personal disaster, each of us has his or her own risks and fears. Unfortunately, you cannot prevent disaster from striking. Whether it is a devastating hurricane like … [Read more...] about When Disaster Strikes
Understanding Undue Influence – Part I
Whenever a client’s Estate Plan deviates from the expected disposition, it raises questions. Most of the time, clients have consulted with a competent attorney regarding their reasons for structuring the plan the way that they have. Sometimes, other factors are at play and the plan doesn’t represent the testator’s true wishes, but rather, another individual’s testamentary desire. That’s undue influence and there are ways to guard against it. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Understanding Undue Influence – Part I
Insurance: A Major Estate Planning Tool
Insurance is at the bedrock of estate plannings. First, it reduces the risk of your estate getting wiped out by unforeseen events. Second, it has unique characteristics that allow for sophisticated planning. Estate planning is all about making sure things are taken care of. Insurance is part of that process. Here are various different kinds of insurance and why you should consider having them: Insurance on you: Life insurance pays a death benefit to your beneficiary. … [Read more...] about Insurance: A Major Estate Planning Tool
10 Tips in Planning for Taxes
“In this world, nothing is certain but death and taxes.” Benjamin Franklin. While taxes may be a certainty, you can minimize your obligation with a little planning. The time to plan is before you sit down to file your taxes on April 15th. Minimizing your taxes is a yearlong process, with particularly important decisions to make as the end of the year approaches. Keep good records. Good record keeping will help you remember all of your deductions. Without records, … [Read more...] about 10 Tips in Planning for Taxes
Pondering Portability
The Internal Revenue Code grants spouses several tax benefits both during life and at death. Portability represents one of those benefits. Portability allows the surviving spouse to use the unused portion of the Applicable Exclusion Amount from their predeceased spouse. In Revenue Procedure 2022-32, the Internal Revenue Service extended the time during which a surviving spouse may elect portability without a Private Letter Ruling from two years to five years. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Pondering Portability
Handling Matters After the Death of a Loved One: Just Do It
When someone close to us dies, it is a time of grief, confusion, and change. As we struggle through our grief, we go through the haze of the funeral and burial. Then, it is tempting to just bury our heads in the sands of grief. However, things must be done to handle the deceased’s affairs as they wanted them handled. Long delays can jeopardize their wishes. First, there are significant deadlines from a tax perspective. If the deceased had enough in assets to have a taxable estate, which … [Read more...] about Handling Matters After the Death of a Loved One: Just Do It
As Time Draws Near
Someone close to you has little time left in this world. What can you do? You want to do everything you can for them. You watch helplessly as they fight what you both know is a losing battle. The doctors have already written the final chapter in the story. There are planning strategies that can be taken advantage of even when time is short. You stay with them to brighten their days, helping to bring joy and even levity into their lives. But, you want to do more. Perhaps they are concerned … [Read more...] about As Time Draws Near
