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.
Look After Your Spouse Even After You're Gone
You and your spouse have worked hard to save for your golden years. But have you planned for a long, secure retirement if one of you outlives the other? Here’s how paying attention to certain key financial areas can set both of you up for a secure, worry-free retirement.
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Home Comforts: Maximizing Your Most Valuable Asset
If you're like many Americans, your home is your single most valuable asset, both emotionally and financially. In addition to being the center of your family life and possibly your most significant financial investment, your home can offer you benefits in terms of taxes, estate planning and asset protection. This article provides various examples of the benefits you can take advantage of as a home owner. With the help of a qualified estate planning attorney, you can make the most of your home, now and in the future.
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Estate Planning: It's About More Than Taxes
In 2010, contrary to a lot of people's expectations, Congress allowed the one-year repeal of the estate tax. Despite all the fuss, the estate tax repeal didn't eliminate the need for estate planning. Why? Estate planning is about so much more than just taxes. This article discusses the many non-tax related reasons why it's important to have an estate plan in place.
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Protecting Your Children from Their Nightmares... and Yours
The article examines statistics regarding divorce in America and how to protect your children from divorce. It examines setting up a divorce protection trust for them as well as using a marital trust for second marriages for your own assets.
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Your 401k or IRA: A Problem Asset?
The article looks at IRAs and 401ks and how we need to save for retirement. Then it looks at the tax problems these plans create. It examines the stretch out available with the FRPT. It also examines using distributions to fund life insurance.
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What Happens in My Initial Estate Planning Consultation?
This article describes what happens in the initial estate planning consultation, including the questions asked, the discussion of goals, etc. The article also references a CNNfn segment that talked about the importance of stringent continuing education requirements, like those of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys.
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Is a Power of Appointment the Same as a Power of Attorney?
The article examines a few legal terms that can be confused, like Power of Attorney, Attorney in Fact, and Power of Appointment. The article examines the terms and specifically, how Powers of Appointment can add flexibility to a plan.
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Estate Planning is Simple....Right?
This article examines clients' preconception that estate planning is simple and that it's just simple word processing. The article examines situations in which the estate planner's experience and technical knowledge comes into play.
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Estate Planning is Life Planning
It seems like there is always some discussion in Congress about changing the estate tax. There even have been proposals to eliminate the tax permanently. If Congress ever eliminates the tax, does this mean that there will no longer be a need for estate planning? No, it does not.
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Let Your Voice Be Heard
The article examines the case of Terri Schiavo and how a clear expression of her wishes could have avoided problems.
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Charitable Bequests: You Better Review Them
This article examines the importance of periodic trust review and uses an example of charitable bequests and cy pres.
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Remarriage: Treat New Spouse Like Royalty
Examines use of income trust in remarriage situations. Analogizes to royal trust in Duchy of Cornwall.
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How to Handle a Windfall
This article examines the financial and estate planning steps for clients to take when they come into a financial windfall.
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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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