If you have created a dynasty trust that you intend to last for decades into the future, choosing the right trustee is critical to the trust’s longevity and ultimate success. Initially you may think...
IRS Announcement: Estate Tax Closing Letters Will Now Only Be Issued Upon Request
Due to the increased volume of federal estate tax return filings in order to make the “portability election,” the IRS has announced that estate tax closing letters will only be issued upon request...
What Documents Do You Need to Find After a Loved One Dies?
After a loved one dies, you need to gather the important documents that are necessary to settle their final affairs. While the documents required will vary depending on what your loved one owned and...
5 Most Expensive States for Retirees in 2015
While there are many factors to consider when choosing the place where you will retire, the ones that will impact your wallet may be the most important. Why? Because having a low crime rate and be...
The Shocking Truth About Asset Protection Planning
Some view asset protection planning with a skeptical eye. They believe there is a moral obligation to pay one’s debts. They think that asset protection planning is immoral because it prevents a cred...
Four Steps to Stop Mail Addressed to a Deceased Person
One of the first things you should do as a newly appointed executor of a deceased person’s probate estate or successor trustee of a deceased trustmaker’s trust is ask the post office to forward th...
Where is the Best Place to Store Your Original Estate Planning Documents?
Estate planning attorneys are often asked where original estate planning documents – wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives – should be stored for safekeeping. While there...
When is an Estate Subject to State Death Taxes?
In the United States, certain states collect a death tax based on the value of the deceased person’s estate and who inherits it. Which States Collect a State Death Tax? As of January 1, 2015, the fo...
Three Liability Planning Tips for Physicians You Can Use Too
The practice of medicine is a profession fraught with liability. It’s not just medical malpractice claims either – employment related issues (wrongful termination, sexual harassment, and discrim...
Caution: Writing Your Own Deed to Avoid Probate Can Lead to Unintended Consequences
One common way to avoid probate of real estate after the owner dies is to hold the title to the property in joint names with rights of survivorship with children or other beneficiaries. This is acc...