When it comes to protecting your wealth and your family creating an estate plan is one of the most important things you can do. An estate plan is your key to ensuring that your hard-earned assets are distributed (or saved or invested) as you designate. An estate plan is your family’s safety net. Unfortunately, too… Read More »
Posts Tagged: Estate Planning
What Happens Now to Elizabeth Taylor’s Fortune?
The recent passing of Elizabeth Taylor has many wondering what will now happen with her sizeable fortune? According to this article in Forbes Ms. Taylor’s fortune includes not only the millions she made in the Hollywood movie industry, but the even greater amount made she made with her fragrance line. “In her most savvy business… Read More »
With the Federal Estate Tax Set at $5 Million, Escaping the State Death Tax Is Now An Issue For Migrating Seniors
For wealthy seniors, state death taxes may now be a big issue, especially if the seniors have the ability to relocate to a “death tax” friendly state. The federal estate tax is set (for at least another two years) but we still expect some states to continue making changes to their own estate tax. The… Read More »
How a Special Needs Trust Can Help Your Child
You know how important it is to protect your family with an estate plan, but if you have a child with special needs then taking steps to protect them if something should happen to you is essential. Unfortunately, for families which include special needs children, knowing exactly the best way to protect your child(ren) isn’t… Read More »
Estate Tax Lessons from 2010 and Things to Watch Out for in 2011
We all know from the many news stories of last year that estate tax laws are not set in stone, they can fluctuate and change both at the state and the federal level; and as this article in Forbes points out, keeping up with those fluctuations can be of the utmost importance to you and… Read More »
Minnesota Health Care Dispute Raises Fears for Everyone
As estate planning attorneys we help our clients plan ahead. We help them create the documents and take the legal action they need to protect themselves and those they love. We help them talk through painful possibilities, and support them as they make difficult decisions. We work to ensure that our clients and their families… Read More »
Planning to Make Your Life Extraordinary
One of the best parts about doing the work that our firm does is that we get to help people evaluate their priorities and define for themselves what is truly important. Sometimes it’s too easy to get caught up in the day-to-day stresses and activities and to lose sight of what your true focus is…. Read More »
Knowledge and Communication is Key to Avoiding Family Fights
Do your adult children know which of them will be your agent under your power of attorney if something happens to you? Most people don’t want to think about Alzheimer’s, dementia, or getting old; and those who have thought about it often choose to keep their wishes secret, their documents held under lock and key… Read More »
Excuses, Excuses… Why You Don’t Have a Healthcare Directive
What is keeping you from signing a healthcare directive? A recent article in Reuters mentions that only 2 out of 5 U.S. citizens have some kind of healthcare directive, and that our own U.S. laws might be the cause. A study done by Rebecca Sudore of the University of California, San Francisco found that “Most… Read More »
A Low-Pressure (And Fun) Way to Discuss Legacy and Estate Planning
The hardest part of legacy planning or estate planning isn’t necessarily choosing the right fiduciaries, or deciding how to distribute your wealth fairly among your loved ones… the hardest part of legacy planning or estate planning is often simply talking about it with family. In fact, having “The Discussion” can be such a daunting task… Read More »