Estate Planning is for Everyone

A common planning misconception is that only those with vast assets need an estate plan. But, it is important to emphasize that estate planning is not just for the wealthy. For many, the word “estate” conjures up a Downton Abbey-like property and an overwhelming amount of zeros on your bank account balance, but estate planning is a must, regardless of your tax bracket. An estate plan concerns…

Read More

Bitcoins and Estate Planning: Bequeathing Cryptocurrency

With the prevalence of Bitcoin as a form of digital currency, new considerations must be made when it comes to a variety of legal concerns. We recently looked at the repercussions of Bitcoin on divorce, but that is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the ways that Bitcoin is influencing how…

Read More

5 Must-Have Estate Planning Documents

As the New Year progresses, there is no better time to start thinking about estate planning. To start your year off right, here is a checklist of the five must-have pieces to every solid estate plan. 1.  Will This is the most obvious starting point of every estate plan – and, in fact, most people who have done some form of estate planning probably…

Read More

5 Estate Planning Nightmares from Around the Country

With the proper estate planning, the following situations could have been avoided. The truth is, many fail to adequately plan their estate, which can potentially lead to outcomes such as these worst-case scenarios. 1.  Mom had been in the nursing home on private pay for over 7 years.  After paying over $700,000 to the nursing…

Read More

How Estate Taxes May Impact your Life Insurance Policy

In the process of estate planning, there are many things to consider. An estate planning attorney can be essential to formulating a sound plan that is best tailored to your individual situation and long-term legacy. Life insurance is a staple of many estate plans, but there is one factor that is often overlooked when people start thinking…

Read More

Long-Term Care Premium Deductibility Limits Increase in 2014

While the importance of healthcare is a topic that is often discussed, many people fail to take long-term care insurance into consideration.  Yet, long-term care insurance can be just as essential to your financial plan as any other preparation done for retirement.  While no one wants to consider that they or their loved ones may need long-term care, it is a reality that…

Read More

Estate Planning Must-Haves for Parents of Children with Special Needs

A solid estate plan is vital when considering the future of your loved ones. After all, you want to ensure that they are protected and provided for even when you are no longer there to do it personally. A standard estate plan will cover the basics, including wills, trusts, power of attorney and health care…

Read More

Fireside Reading with a Side of Estate Planning

After creating a will, circumstances may emerge that prompt a desire to change various aspects of the document. Divorces, new marriages, additional children, familial disagreements and shifting allegiances to charities can each impact a will. Adding a codicil is a way to amend the document without creating an entirely new document.  A codicil is a…

Read More

Same-Sex Marriage Estate Tax Milestone

Recently, with a landmark decision in U.S. v. Windsor, the U.S. Supreme Court has determined that a stipulation of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional. The decision in this benchmark case paves the way for gay couples to receive tax refunds on taxes paid because the federal government didn’t recognize their marriage. The…

Read More

Estate Planning for Young Adults

Turning eighteen is a milestone for many reasons.  You are legally an adult, with the ability to vote, and you may be heading off to college or starting a career.  The future is upon you, the world is your oyster, and any other number of clichés.  Regardless of where you are headed, it is most likely…

Read More