Estate Planning

The Power in Powers of Appointment

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The Power In Powers Of Appointment

Estate Planning attorneys balance competing interests when creating estate plans. Uncertainty about the future concerning taxes and each beneficiary’s situation requires flexibility in an Estate Plan. Powers of appointment offer Estate Planning attorneys a way to add flexibility to a plan without complication. When creating powers of appointment, it’s important to consider not only the reason for including the power but also the way it needs to be exercised

Business Succession Planning May Be Easier than You Think

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Business Succession Planning May Be Easier Than You Think

Many Estate Planning attorneys shy away from business succession planning, but if you approach it like you do any other asset, it’s not so scary! First, it’s important to understand that entities involve not just the business relationship, but family relationships as well. Often, businesses start with one or maybe two members of a senior generation who have the funds, desire, and connections to create the business. It’s not always clear, though, what will happen when that senior generation retires, or worse yet, dies unexpectedly.

Just When You Thought You Understood the 10-Year Rule, Think Again

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Just When You Thought You Understood The Year Rule Think Again

IRAs have become ubiquitous components of estate plans. The SECURE Act of 2019 altered the landscape for IRAs significantly by eliminating the stretch benefit for most designated beneficiaries and forcing all designated beneficiaries other than Eligible Designated Beneficiaries to use the 10-year rule for distributions. The 10-year rule was thought to operate much like the 5-year rule that existed before the passage of the SECURE Act. Recently issued proposed Treasury Regulations dispute that and instead require annual distributions for any beneficiary subject to the 10-year rule.

What Happens in My Initial Estate Planning Consultation?

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Your initial consultation with an estate planning attorney should be similar to your initial consultation with your physician. First, you will be asked to provide information about yourself and your family.  Are you married?  Do you have any children?  Did you have previous marriages?  Do you have any grandchildren?  What are the ages of you and your … Read more

Let’s Talk about Trusts…and Taxation

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Lets Talk About Trusts And Taxation

Estate planning attorneys need to understand and explain taxation of trusts in order to properly advise clients. Individual clients need to understand the implications of the plan their attorney suggests in order to properly file their own taxes. Determining whether a trust qualifies as a grantor trust or a nongrantor trust is the first step in determining tax liability for a particular year.

What Estate of Marion Levine Means for Life Insurance

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What Estate Of Marion Levine Means For Life Insurance

Life insurance has long been part of Estate Plans, whether used to ensure liquidity for the estate on the death of the insured, or simply as income replacement on the death of the insured. Understanding the impact of life insurance on an estate plan has become critically important. A recent tax court case resulted in a big win for the taxpayer in a complex set of facts which could impact how you incorporate life insurance for your Estate Planning clients

Learn from Anna Nicole’s Mistakes

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Anna Nicole Smith seemed to go from one estate planning mess to another.  First, she was the wife of billionaire J. Howard Marshall.  For many years, she was involved in litigation over his estate because J. Howard never included her in his Will.  But, even after experiencing first-hand the emotional, financial, and time costs of … Read more

An Outdated Estate Plan Can Welcome Trouble

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Probate Court

An outdated estate plan is almost as bad as no estate plan. Either way, it means that things may not play out as expected in the future. Here are some reasons an outdated estate plan could cause you and/or your loved one’s trouble: The wrong executor: You must be able to trust that the executor … Read more

Estate Planning is Simple….Right?

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Many people think that estate planning is simple:  You just press a button on a word processor and out comes a Will or other document that does just what you want.  However, it’s just not that simple. There are many reasons that it takes someone with years of education and practical experience to advise you … Read more