Category Archives for Settlement of Estates
9 Top Questions (and Answers) on the SECURE Act
If you are at or nearing retirement age or planning for retirement, there is some BIG NEWS that everyone needs to understand and act on for their own retirement planning. Just this month, the Setting Every Community Up For Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act was passed by the House of Representatives and the US Senate by […]
Continue reading3 Reasons Why You Want to Take Social Security at 62
There is always a lot of discussion about when someone should start taking their Social Security payments. And often times it depends on who you are talking to as to what the pro’s and cons are for the different times you are eligible. Most people know they can start taking their Social Security payments starting […]
Continue readingIt’s HERE…the Tax Tables Everyone Needs to Know for 2020
One of the most anticipated (and dreaded) time of the year is when the IRS releases the tax rates for the upcoming year. It almost always happens in the last couple of months of the year. While everyone hopes their rates will go down, for most, they either aren’t going to change significantly or could […]
Continue readingSpecial Needs Children Need Special Planning
Every Estate Plan has its nuances and “special” attributes to make it work for the people who it will serve. There are no two plans the same…nor should there be. When you have a “special needs” child, there are even more nuances that make your plan very specific for both today and tomorrow. If you […]
Continue readingDon’t Forget About Your “Other” Loved Ones…Your Pets
Are you (or do you know) one of those pet owners who is “over the top” passionate about their pet? They are a member of the family and are loved as much as anyone else in the family. Their pets might even get more attention when it comes to posting pictures on social media than […]
Continue readingThe “Four Pillars” You Need in Your Estate Plan so it “Works” the Way You Want It To
Regardless of whether you have an estate plan in place or are just starting to think about one, there are some key elements everyone should know about (or refresh their thinking about). It will be worth your time to refresh yourself (or educate yourself) on some core goals you should consider when thinking about estate […]
Continue readingAre You Taking Advantage of the 199A Tax Deduction?
Since it went into effect on January 1, 2018, our law office has been receiving a LOT of inquiries about the new IRC §199A deduction. Most don’t understand it and those that do aren’t sure exactly how to take advantage of it, or if it even applies to them. Allow me to try and simplify […]
Continue readingCelebrity “Fail” Series…Fail #3…How Burt Reynolds and Aretha Franklin Failed at Estate Planning
This is the third in our “Celebrity Fail Series” that talks about how celebrities failed to do the proper planning for their estates. Besides having some great entertainment value, there are some important lessons that can be learned from some of the most recognized celebrities. It also demonstrates that effective estate planning isn’t about having the […]
Continue readingCelebrity “Fail” Series… Fail #1…How Prince Failed at Estate Planning
In a world where people envy the lives of celebrities, there are some realities that might not make you quite so envious. One of these areas is Estate Planning. When we think they have it all together we often times discover this is not necessarily the case. When they pass away and their estate plans […]
Continue readingUncovering Dementia and Alzheimer’s Cover-ups
One of my estate planning colleagues, Lizette Sundvick, who practices in Nevada penned this comment on dementia cover-ups. Her post occurred after reading, “The Danger of Your Aging Parent Covering Up Dementia” article in Forbes. Here’s what’s important: it doesn’t matter if you have a diagnosis for your aging parent or not. It matters how […]
Continue reading