by Christine | Apr 5, 2013 | Family Business, Succession Planning |
The silent party to all the fighting is, of course, Luray Caverns. It is not just a U.S. Natural Landmark. It is also a business, and businesses can suffer when their owners are at war with each other. Family businesses have a tough time passing from generation to...
by Christine | Apr 4, 2013 | 2012, Gift Tax, Tax Return |
You must report 2012 gifts on Form 709 even if you don’t owe tax. Among other things, that’s so the IRS will know how much of the $5.12 million ($5.25 million for 2013) tax-free amount you have used so far. April 15 is approaching fast, and the tax man is ready to...
by Christine | Apr 3, 2013 | Art, Estate Law, Estate Planning, Illiquid Assets, Valuation, Valuation Discount |
Artwork can be really valuable. Thus, it is hardly surprising that artwork will be a contentious matter in estate tax cases. When it comes to estate planning, determining the value of artwork can be disputable and very difficult to pin down. However, in order to fit...
by Christine | Apr 2, 2013 | Asset Protection, Estate Planning, Marriage, Prenuptial Agreement, Trusts |
…In general, I highly recommend that couples negotiate the financial terms of their marriage and each partner’s role before saying their vows. If you keep up on celebrity gossip as it relates to those high-profile marriages and divorces, you often hear that six letter...
by Christine | Apr 1, 2013 | Elder Law, Estate Planning, Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA), Power of Attorney |
A POA is a legal document that is based on your state’s law that authorizes someone to act on your behalf. A Power of Attorney (POA) is an essential tool for your estate plans, and a mighty strong one at that. In effect, every adult should have one. Like most legal...
by Christine | Mar 29, 2013 | Estate Planning, Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA), Inheritance, Inherited IRAs |
Let's say that someone who is not your spouse recently died and named you as their IRA beneficiary. You now have what the IRS calls an “inherited IRA.” When you inherit money, once you receive it you can usually decide where it goes from there, such as a simple...
by Christine | Mar 28, 2013 | Estate Law, Estate Planning, Mediation, Wills |
…In general, the lasting anger and bitterness of litigation doesn't seem to occur when matters are settled by mediation. Inheritance battles are nothing new. We see several of them make their way into courtrooms far and wide, exposing the family “cat fight” for...
by Christine | Mar 27, 2013 | Elder Care, Elder Law |
Already, 5.2 million Americans have Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia. Those numbers will jump to 13.8 million by 2050 … The latest numbers are in from the Alzheimer’s Association, and reports show one in three seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or other dementia....
by Christine | Mar 26, 2013 | Elder Abuse, Elder Law, Power of Attorney |
Statistics on power of attorney abuse are hard to come by, but experts recognize it as a prevalent problem. There will come a time at which you will need to legally delegate someone to handle your financial matters. This legal delegation, known as a “power of...
by Christine | Mar 25, 2013 | Estate Planning, Exit Strategy, Small Business, Succession Planning |
Most exit plans I’ve dealt with are some combination of these three basic techniques. And, the lines that differentiate them can be fuzzy. Owning and running a business is tough stuff, and at times you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders. But leaving your...
