My son just got home for his holiday break from college. Most of us look forward to these winter holidays as a time to spend with family, enjoy the spirit of giving, and even relax a few days away from the stress of our jobs. Every year we hear about how stressful the holidays are, […]
Read moreWe had great fun at our Annual Client Event. One of the topics we discussed was the status of the estate tax law changes. As you may have guessed, the question of course on every estate planning attorney’s mind (and on the minds of our clients) is what will happen to the estate tax next […]
Read moreHow much do you know about estate plans? And how do you know when you need one? Many people have a vague feeling that they should execute some kind of estate plan eventually, but think (hope) that they really don’t need one right now. On our blog we spend a lot of time telling people […]
Read moreThanksgiving is upon us again. Most of my family will be in town this week to share the holiday together. For many people the holiday season brings more than just celebration. Seeing family and friends you may not have seen since this time last year means seeing grandchildren who have shot up like weeds, siblings […]
Read moreDuring our seminars this year, I’ve reminded the audience that if you are a senior 70 ½ or older who owns an IRA we have good news for you. Last year Congress approved legislation that waives the minimum withdrawal requirement for seniors in 2009. This leaves seniors with more options than usual regarding their IRAs. […]
Read moreForget silver, china, or linens; the best gift you can give a newly married couple is an estate plan! This is especially true if the marriage is a second marriage for either of them. Marrying a person means marrying their financial issues as well; this may include children or responsibilities from a previous marriage, a […]
Read moreThe federal estate tax is scheduled to disappear next year (in 2010); and although most people expect lawmakers to pass legislation keeping the estate tax alive, they also vaguely hope that the estate tax (also sometimes called the “death tax”) does disappear—at least for a little while. But this article in the Wall Street Journal […]
Read moreMany people think that there’s no need to update your estate plan documents if none of your beneficiaries or fiduciaries have changed, but that’s exactly the kind of thinking that can lead to disaster. Estate planning documents are based not only on your own wishes, but also on federal and state tax laws. When we […]
Read moreThe Ohio Supreme Court has recently taken strong action against two co-owners in a company participating in an illegal “trust mill” operation. According to this article from the Associated Press, the two owners, Jeffrey and Stanley Norman, have been permanently barred from marketing or selling their trust products in Ohio after they were found to […]
Read moreThe recent verdict by a New York jury finding Anthony Marshall guilty of stealing from his aging mother Brooke Astor while she suffered from Alzheimer’s disease is a hopeful one for elder abuse experts. Elder abuse is an issue that is all too common in our society, but one that rarely gets much attention. And […]
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