How to Select an Estate Planning Attorney

For many people, choosing a wills attorney or a trust attorney to plan their state is the first contact that they have had with an attorney. It can be a daunting task for them to decide what qualities they should look for in an estate planning attorney. That’s why it’s a great idea to hire […]

State Estate Taxes

In addition to federal estate taxes, most of us also face the dreaded prospect of having to pay state estate taxes. Even if you live in a state that does not impose in each state tax, you may have assets located in a state that does have any state tax. Historically, instead of imposing their […]

Asset Protection

Building a successful estate, although it takes a lifetime of hard work, is only half the battle. Just as big a challenge, if not more so, is safeguarding your wealth from the host of threads that seek to Rob you of your hard earned financial security. No one is immune. Taxes, lawsuits, creditor actions, even […]

Dynasty Trusts

It was once possible for wealthy individuals to entirely avoid federal estate taxation by placing assets in trust that established life Estates for children in each succeeding generation. This strategy completely circumvented federal estate taxes because the tax code then taxed only property that an individual had right to give away a death period since […]

The Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust

A common misconception is that life insurance proceeds are entirely tax free. Well it is true that life insurance proceeds are generally free from income taxes, many people are both surprised and dismayed when they learn that their life insurance proceeds are subject to estate taxation. With a life insurance, you can help make sure […]

Succession Planning for the Family-Owned Business

In addition to the estate planning challenges facing us all, those who have family-owned businesses or farms have additional succession and planning challenges to confront. The family-business is often a valuable family asset that must be factored into the family’s overall estate plan. Planning for a smooth and successful transition of the business to the […]

Estate Planning; The Importance of Guardians and Trustees

Perhaps no other single estate planning issue is more important for parents than making the difficult decision about who will take care of their children if they are unable to care for them themselves. We have learned that for many parents the difficulty of making this decision, due primarily to their inability to select the […]

Estate Planning With Trusts

As discussed in chapter one, there are serious consequences awaiting you and your family if you fail to properly plan your estate. The dangers of owning property in joint tenancy were discussed as well as the government’s default plan, which will control your estate if you become disabled or die. To determine whether the government’s […]