Attorneys Get Paid per Word! And Other Untruths…
Why is my trust so long? As an estate planning attorney who provides comprehensive, solution-oriented planning documents to clients, I get this question almost every week. I have to chuckle, knowing that in the olden days attorneys did get paid per word of each document they created. But not anymore. Most estate planning attorneys work […]
Is your Estate Plan a Trojan Horse?
On January 31st of 2014, the Chinese celebrated the Year of the Horse. Which got me thinking about famous horses: Black Beauty, Secretariat, Trigger, Sea Biscuit, Silver, the Budweiser Clydesdales, Man O’ War, Pokey, and even the Trojan Horse. That famous tale, expertly depicted in the Brad Pitt film Troy, recounts how the Greeks hid […]
Basic Guide To Estate Planning
Since estate planning attorneys are deeply involved in the intricacies of the field, they sometimes forget that many people don’t really understand what is involved. View image | gettyimages.com That’s why it is usually good to review the basics. An article on cheatsheet.com does just that. Estate planning zeroes in on you being able to […]
Protecting Against Taxes
When the ball dropped on New Year’s, it signaled more good news for the fairly wealthy and their heirs — the exemption from federal estate taxes jumped to $5.43 million for those who die in 2015. View image | gettyimages.com That’s up from $5.34 million last year. Still, most folks don’t need to worry about […]
Frequent Estate Planning Mistakes
Estate planning done right isn’t easy – that’s why there are lawyers and financial advisors who focus on helping people with their estates. http://gty.im/153349919 If you review your documents, ensure that they are signed and pick the right experts, you should do well, according to an article on cnbc.com. However, there are errors that people […]
Estate Planning Not Only For The Wealthy
A widely held misconception says that estate planning is only for the wealthy, as a way to save on taxes. http://gty.im/102070486 A story on cnbc.com says that nothing could be further from the truth. Estate planning is about giving what you want to whom you want, how you want and when you want – with […]
Is A Trust For You?
Is a trust necessary for you or can you get by with a simple will? http://gty.im/101687451 There are several factors to consider when deciding if you should spend the money needed to set up a trust. Here are a few, says an article in Forbes: What part of your estate can you protect from probate? […]
Celebrity Estate Planning Mistakes Teach Lessons
Even though they usually have the money to get the best advice, celebrities often make mistakes with their estate plans. An article in Forbes suggests a few lessons recent celebrity deaths can teach us about estate planning. 1) Think about who you name to manage your trust. Robin Williams had created irrevocable trusts to provide […]
Estate Planning: Should You Get A Prius Or A Hummer?
Estate plans can be viewed like cars. Some folks prefer a Prius, because they need good gas mileage. Others choose a Hummer, because they need the room and the poor gas mileage isn’t a concern. The estate planning comparison is between having a will and an estate plan, says an article on nwitimes.com. The author […]
What You Should Know About A Living Trust
When passing on your estate to your heirs, a will or other estate planning tools can be used. A revocable living trust is one of best choices. A story on aarp.org says the revocable living trust is becoming very popular, particularly among baby boomers. This kind of a trust is a way to avoid probate […]