Estates

Transitions – Part 1

Life is full of transitions and the actions taken to prepare for such transitions.  Parents spend time and money preparing for the transition of a child from infant to a toddler.  We winterize our cars and our homes; preparing for the changes in seasons.  And as our kids grow older and leave the nest, we […]

Share

Read More →

Read More →

Digital Asset Management: What Happens to My Online Accounts When I Die or If I Am Incapacitated?

In 2023, most people have shifted (whether you wanted to or not) to living mostly online. Between keeping up with social media and managing your finances, the average person has more than 90 online accounts. When dealing with estate planning, the common agenda is to ensure that you and your family are taken care of […]

Share

Read More →

Read More →

Estate Taxes Across the U.S.

It is human nature to feel that we are overtaxed.  And yes, rates for one tax or another will vary from state to state.  We have what are commonly referred to as death taxes.  These are usually identified as an inheritance tax or an estate tax and vary by state.  Estate taxes are based on […]

Share

Read More →

Read More →

New Required Minimum Distribution Rules

A few years ago, the Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) rule changed from requiring distributions at the age of 70-1/2 to 72 years.  Life expectancies are increasing (sans Covid) and the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 has extended the starting age for RMDs to the age of 73 for those who turn 72 after December 31, […]

Share

Read More →

Read More →

Your Spouse Has Passed – Now What?

Your spouse has passed – what do you need to do?  Many times, there may be very little for you, as the surviving spouse, to do after the funeral.  However, everyone is different and what your relative or neighbor may have experienced is not what is true for your situation.  The list below is but […]

Share

Read More →

Read More →

New Year – New To Do List

As we move through the new year, we may have made resolutions, created a To Do list, or just have mentally thought about different things that might need attention.  Regardless of your method, one very important item that you should give priority to is to address your estate planning and to determine if it needs […]

Share

Read More →

Read More →

What Is Federal Estate Tax Portability?

For several years now, we have been hearing about “portability.” Do you know what it means? How does the term affect you? Simply stated, portability of the federal estate tax exemption between married couples means that if the first spouse dies and the value of the estate does not require the use of all of […]

Share

Read More →

Read More →

Retirement Accounts and Second Marriages

Are you on spouse number 2 or 3 and you have a retirement account?  If so, there are certain things to keep in mind.  First of all, if you have had your estate planning completed by an estate planner or have a financial advisor/planner, you have most likely addressed this issue. But if you are […]

Share

Read More →

Read More →

Don’t Make These Estate Planning Mistakes

I know that I have written in the past about estate planning, but as time passes, we see more and more issues arising from estate planning mistakes – omissions, improper forms, improper titling or non-titling of assets, and not taking special circumstances into consideration. In our day-to-day administration of estates, we encounter many challenges and […]

Share

Read More →

Read More →

Birthday Basics

You will never forget your birthday (even though you may want to). Every time you make another trip around the sun (a year), it is good to reflect on what has changed in your life and what you have accomplished. Estate planning is probably something that rarely is among these thoughts. Many people think that […]

Share

Read More →

Read More →

Top