by Christine | Sep 26, 2012 | Estate Planning, Living Trust |
The trouble with do-it-yourself planning is that even if your situation seems simple, there are many oddball things a layman wouldn’t think of that can go wrong, especially with wills and trusts. No one wants to pay for something he or she can do themselves. Right?...
by Christine | Sep 21, 2012 | Charitable Giving |
The recession’s effect on total charitable giving may never be fully known because many donors don’t itemize contributions on their tax returns. Still, the economic downturn caused a bigger drop in total giving than was previously estimated, according to figures...
by Christine | Sep 20, 2012 | Elder Law, Surviving Spouse, Widow |
It’s no secret that women live longer than men. But a new study by the Wharton School’s Pension Research Council suggests that some professional financial advisers neglect to take that fact into account when they tell clients how to time their Social Security...
by Christine | Sep 19, 2012 | Estate Planning, Trust Protector, Trusts |
The [Trust] Protector is so useful, and it has become so commonplace, that the concept should almost always be discussed between planners and those looking to form trusts. In every trust arrangement there are three fundamental parties: the settlor, the trustee, and...
by Christine | Sep 18, 2012 | California, Estate Planning, Litigation Probate, Tort |
In an effort to address one category of untoward conduct, the California Court of Appeal has created a new tort to give courts a chance to test the conduct of a beneficiary by standards reflecting societal mores. A California intermediate appeals court recently used a...
by Christine | Sep 17, 2012 | 2012, 2013, Estate Planning, Intentionally Defective Grantor Trust (IDGT) |
The transfer of a residence to an IDGT is a strategy that enables a wealthy family to remove a valuable asset from their estate without impinging upon liquidity. It is built upon using time-tested estate planning concepts that are very likely to remain through...
by Christine | Sep 14, 2012 | Estate Planning |
End-of-life tax-ducking techniques can cut income taxes as well as federal estate and state estate and inheritance taxes. It’s never too late to take charge of your assets and the inheritances you plan to leave. For that matter, it’s never too late to properly plan...
by Christine | Sep 13, 2012 | Charitable Giving, Estate Law, Gift |
Warren Buffett celebrated his 82nd birthday last Thursday by announcing an additional $3.1 billion in donations to the charities run by his three children. Most of us spend our birthdays receiving gifts. In fact, that’s been the standard operating procedure...
by Christine | Sep 12, 2012 | Estate Planning, Roth IRA |
In 2010, we felt that the conditions were ideal for converting traditional IRAs into Roth accounts. Previous restrictions on conversions had been removed, and income triggered by conversions was taxed at relatively low rates. Today, we are once again looking at...
by Christine | Sep 11, 2012 | Elder Law, Mediation |
A small but growing number of mediators (people who help resolve disputes, typically outside a courtroom) now specialize in elder affairs. They help families work through concerns — and fights — involving caregiving, inheritance, living arrangements,...
