Browse Our Estate Planning Articles
Some of these articles have been written by our law firm and other articles are written by the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys and compliments of our law firm. Any feedback or questions about the articles can be addressed by contacting our office.
Estate Planning in the Electronic Age
In today's electronic age, it seems that things are changing at an ever increasing rate. Every time we turn around, there's a new technology and more and more information to keep in mind. With the electronic storage of sensitive financial and emotionally valuable information, a new concern people have is what to do with "electronic assets" after their death or disability. This article discusses four possible options for the transfer of these potentially valuable assets.
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Your Team is on Your Side
Estate Planning is like a team sport. Your team should be made of qualified professionals, which you have selected. This article examines your team members and describes the role they should play in achieving your goals. Working with your team, you will be able to build a game plan to get you to the finish line.
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Help for Our Armed Forces
he article examines the taxation of combat pay. Specifically, combat pay is tax-free. Also, it looks at new legislation that allows combat pay, otherwise not in income, to be considered as income for IRA eligibility.
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Preserve Your Wealth with Medicare Part D
The article provides a basic overview of Medicare Part D and why it is important from an estate planning perspective.
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Open Communication Avoids Disputes
The article examines the need for clear and open communication with beneficiaries and fiduciaries. Study cites statistics indicating a higher incidence of disputes when beneficiaries are kept in the dark.
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The Problems of Giving Everything Away
This article examines a case of a woman who titles everything in the name of the children. It examines why joint title and giving everything away may not be the best course of action.
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What to Do after a Loved One Dies
Clients often have uncertainty regarding the process after death. The article looks at the typical roles, such as trustee and executor, and explains their duties. The article directs the reader to contact an estate planning / administration attorney. The article mentions a couple post-mortem steps such as gathering assets and cautions against retitling assets or making distributions until talking with the attorney.
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Study Shows Most Americans Unprepared
This article examines the percentage of Americans with various basic estate planning documents and explains each document.
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Plan Now or Pay Later
Krispy Kreme and Wal-Mart have a lot in common. Die-hard fans line up in front of their locked doors the night before grand openings, licking their lips for a puffed up glazed doughnut or a bargain that can set the neighbors talking over the fences. But what do these two incredibly successful businesses and the families that started them have that sets them apart?
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Joint Tenancy: Simple But Problematic
With joint tenancy, two or more individuals hold title together. At the death of a joint tenant, the property automatically re-vests in the remaining joint tenants. Many people think they can avoid seeing a lawyer to do estate planning by titling all of their assets in joint tenancy, thus avoiding probate. This is a simple solution, but it invites many problems.
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Failure to Plan Compounds Tragedy for Same-Sex Partners
On September 11, 2001, tragedy struck all of us as terrorists used passenger planes as lethal weapons, striking fear into our hearts and sadness into our souls. The events of that day made us feel powerless.
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Calculating Your Required Minimum Distributions: Is Your Beneficiary Qualified?
People who own retirement assets, such as Traditional IRAs, are constantly being told to be aware of turning age 70.5. This is the magic age in retirement planning, and is the time at which mandatory annual withdrawals, called Minimum Required Distributions ("MRDs") must be determined. This first MRD must be taken no later than April 1st of the year following the year in which you reach 70.5 (also known as the Required Beginning Date ("RBD")).
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