by Christine | Jul 29, 2014 | Beneficiary, Trustee, Trusts |
Today’s low interest rates create special problems for those focused on income, including retirees and the income beneficiaries of trusts. Prolonged periods of low interest rates can result in low trust income, creating conflict among beneficiaries. Many trusts are...
by Christine | Jul 28, 2014 | Estate Plan, Estate Planning |
"Many have not taken adequate steps to review and update these plans since the moment they were signed. Meanwhile, major life events such as marriage, the birth of a child or the launch of a business may have occurred." Estate plans are not a one-shot deal....
by Christine | Jul 25, 2014 | Digital Assets, Digital Estate Planning, Estate Planning |
Planning for control of your personal information after you die used to be as simple as telling someone about the desk drawer or the fireproof box or the safe deposit box at the local bank. But in the era of smartphones and cloud computing services, that same stuff...
by Christine | Jul 24, 2014 | Estate Planning, Trusts |
Who knew a “Walk on the Wild Side” could pay off so handsomely? Late rock legend Lou Reed left behind a $30 million fortune, The Post has learned. $20 million-plus in “money and other property” doesn’t include the approximately $10 million in gifts Reed left to...
by Christine | Jul 23, 2014 | Autism, Caregivers & Caregiving, Long Term Care, Special Needs, Special Needs Children, Special Needs Planning, Special Needs Trusts |
New studies are providing more current cost estimates. “What we found was shocking,” Mandell said. “This is a huge hit on families.” The costs to care for a child with special needs is on the rise, as reported in a new study in the medical journal JAMA Pediatric. The...
by Christine | Jul 21, 2014 | Estate Planning, Estate Tax, LIfe Insurance |
“While there are a number of ways to address estate tax liabilities and retirement savings distinctly, developments in the life insurance arena are providing new and potentially better options. These strategies are highly versatile to meet the evolving needs of the...
by Christine | Jul 18, 2014 | Business Succession Planning, Estate Planning, Small Business |
Succession planning where company ownership is concerned can be fairly complicated, but at a simple level every plan is based on two basic issues. You’ve probably thought a lot about who will take over for you; that’s one. But, just as importantly, how can you make...
by Christine | Jul 17, 2014 | Charitable Giving, Wills |
Carl J Drake spent his life studying bugs, everything from aphids to water striders. When he died in 1965, the entomologist left his life savings and his vast insect collection to the Smithsonian. But now Drake's will has become something of a pest. The case of...
by Christine | Jul 16, 2014 | Art, Estate Law, Estate Tax, Tax Law, Valuation |
New rules and enforcement guidelines may render these items not only illegal to export or import, but also unsalable within the United States. Valuing artwork is never an easy task. It gets all the more tricky with antiques composed of protected materials which cannot...
by Christine | Jul 15, 2014 | Disinheritance, Estate Planning |
Lawyers for Mr. Cohen say that he was entrusted with his father’s business, and that the two men enjoyed a close and caring relationship. But lawyers for Ms. Perelman claimed that it was that closeness that allowed Mr. Cohen, who eventually took over operations of...
