When the U.S. Supreme Court handed down their ruling last Wednesday, striking section 3 from the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) as unconstitutional, the Court radically changed the estate planning laws for many same-sex married couples. Not only are marriages of same-sex couples is now recognized as legal under federal law, but they can now […]
Read moreThere are many estate planning considerations that parents need to make. Although grim, parents need to consider and plan for the possibility that one or both parents may suddenly become unable to care for their minor children. A recent article discusses some of the estate planning considerations that parents should make. Parents need to first […]
Read moreWhen planning your estate, it is important to remember that communication with your loved ones and friends is vital to the success of your plan. A recent article discusses how best to can start an estate planning conversation. Schedule the conversation: By scheduling a time to speak about your estate plan with your family and […]
Read moreDomestic partners, even ones registered with a state, do not share the same rights as married couples. Therefore, domestic partners need to be extra careful when crafting their estate plans. A recent article describes several common pitfalls to avoid in domestic partner estate planning. The first pitfall occurs in gifting assets to a partner. Domestic […]
Read moreAs more and more American farmers reach the age of retirement, they sometimes feel that they are being forced to make decisions about what will happen to their farm after they pass on. Farmers typically have two options, (1) sell the farm, or (2) pass on the farm onto remaining family members or relatives. As […]
Read moreMany pet owners are refusing to leave the future of their pets to chance. As a recent article explains, devoted pet owners are providing for the care of their pets through wills, trusts, or other estate-planning provisions. As pet owner Carol Santora explained, “I got really nervous about it because I don’t think anyone in […]
Read moreParents with special needs children face many challenges. While protecting your child’s financial future may seem like a far-off goal, a recent article points out that it is important to partake in some long-term financial planning now. Early planning helps to ensure that your child has enough assets to maintain proper care in the future. […]
Read moreEstate planning is especially important for farmers and ranchers, as it assists them in passing the farm and its operation along to the next generation, and may save some taxes in the process. A recent article discusses important steps in the process of estate planning for farmers and ranchers. According to New York Life […]
Read moreA common estate planning question is whether it is better to allow your heirs to inherit your home, or give it to them as a gift. This article in the Los Angeles Times addresses that question. Generally, it is better to let your child inherit homes that have appreciated in value since your original […]
Read moreWhen it comes to structuring estate plans, a potentially awkward but necessary question to ask is whether you and your spouse will seek joint or separate representation. This article in Forbes discusses how you and your spouse might go about answering that question. Joint representation for estate planning has many benefits. First, it is generally […]
Read more
