Important Steps to Plan for the Future of a Special Needs Child
#1 Establish a Comprehensive Plan
Most estate planning attorneys will say that no person should use a “do-it-yourself” will kit to establish their estate plan. If you have a child with special...
Preparing to Meet With an Estate Planning Attorney
A thorough and complete estate plan must take into account a significant amount of information about your assets, your family, your property, and your wishes during and after your life. When you make your first appointment...
Protecting Your Legacy with Estate Tax Planning
Protecting Your Legacy with Estate Tax Planning
You spend your whole life building your legacy but sadly, that is not always enough. Without careful estate tax planning, much of it could be lost to taxes or misdirected. While a will or living trust...
What is Estate Tax Portability and How Does it Affect Me?
What is Estate Tax Portability and How Does it Affect Me?
Estate Tax Portability
Estate tax portability means that the unused portion of the first-to-die spouse’s estate tax exemption passes to the surviving spouse. The current estate tax exemption is $5.45 million. This...
Things to Consider in Establishing a Charitable Giving Plan
For many individuals, leaving a legacy of charity is an important component of estate planning, but there are many factors involved in creating a charitable giving plan.
First, it is important to select causes that you believe in such as environmental,...
The Difference Between Equal and Equitable Inheritances
When it comes to estate planning, many individuals believe that dividing assets equally among adult children is the best choice. However, there are situations in which leaving each child the same amount might not be practical. For this reason, it is important...
How a Prenuptial Agreement Can Protect Your Estate
There are many circumstances that can impact an estate plan, not the least of which is divorce. While ending a marriage is complicated, it is not only crucial to arrive at a fair and equitable distribution of the marital assets, but...
What is Settlement Planning?
What is Settlement Planning?
Settlement planning is a unique and expanding area of law that is designed to help individuals preserve benefits that have been received from a personal injury settlement, inheritance or judgment. The practice encompasses an array of legal...
A Primer on Irrevocable Trusts
Many individuals are aware that a will is one way to plan for the distribution of their assets after death. However, a comprehensive estate plan also considers other objectives such as planning for long-term care and asset protection. For this reason,...
What are Letters Testamentary?
What are Letters Testamentary?
An individual who has been named as a personal representative or executor in a will has a number of important duties. These include gathering the deceased person's property and transferring it to the beneficiaries through a court-supervised...