Estate Planning Articles

The spread of the coronavirus has wreaked havoc on financial markets around the world. While nobody would seek out such a decline, it could provide opportunities for some people. This is the second of a two-part series on strategies to consider under these circumstances. This first article looked at gifting and electing alternate valuation. This second article looks at the Grantor Retained Annuity Trust, or...

The novel “coronavirus” (also called “SARS-CoV-2”) causes the disease “COVID-19.” It first appeared in late 2019 and was reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) on December 31, 2019. Here’s a link to the WHO’s site for the latest global information. COVID-19 has impacted the lives of millions of people and countless events around the world. The coronavirus has infected over four million people around the...

The spread of the coronavirus has wreaked havoc on financial markets around the world. While nobody would seek out such a decline, it could provide opportunities for some people. This is the first of a two-part series of articles on strategies to consider under these circumstances. This first article looks at gifting and electing alternate valuation. The second article will look at the Grantor Retained...

It’s important to consider whom you’d want to get your assets when you die. Most of us have an idea of whom we’d choose. But, it’s also important to consider who should get those assets if your preferred recipient isn’t around. Life is full of odd twists and turns. Unfortunately, sometimes people don’t die in the order you’d expect. (The deaths of Kobe Bryant and his daughter...

People are living longer and are having children later in life. Due to this combination of demographic factors, many more people are in the “Sandwich Generation.” Someone in the Sandwich Generation has elderly parents while they still have minor children. All too often, they are torn between their caregiving responsibilities for their children and for their parents. Here is an article regarding the Sandwich Generation which may...

Please join us on May 20 for an online Refresher Course.  This virtual session is geared for clients, family members, guests of clients, and successor trustees to your estate plan - simply join us from the comfort of home, on any device!  It’s a good time to think back and note any changes in your own family and/or your assets, and the effect those changes...

Did you received a stimulus check or deposit addressed to a deceased person or their trust or estate?  We have been telling people to hold such checks and wait for IRS guidance.  Yesterday, May 6, the IRS issued such guidance. The payment needs to be returned.   A payment made to someone who died before receipt of the payment should be returned to the appropriate IRS...

Estate Planning is essential for many reasons, which are set forth in prior articles. Links to these articles are set forth at the end of this article. This series focuses on how an Estate Plan could be challenged. This series shows the importance of doing Estate Planning in the right way. The first article in this series focused on formalities. The second article in the...

This week we're sharing a blog from the office of Mike Wakshull, a forensic document examiner. Blog Author: Mike Wakshull, MS, CQE, CISA, PMP You see an unfamiliar signature on a will or trust that was allegedly signed by a deceased relative. You suspect the signature on a trust or will is not legitimate. There are steps you can take before engaging the expense of...

The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, is spreading in the United States and across the globe. Learn what steps you can take to prepare yourself and help prevent its spread. There’s a new virus that’s emerging, novel “coronavirus,” also called “COVID-19.” It first appeared in Wuhan, China in late 2019 and reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) on December 31, 2019. Here’s a link to the WHO’s...