In a society dominated by paperwork, the question of how long to hold on to important documents has been baffling for most people. We especially worry about documents of a financial or personally identifying nature. People who worry about losing something important...

Although many people equate “estate planning” with having a will, there are many advantages to having a trust rather than a will as the centerpiece of your estate plan. While there are other estate planning tools (such as joint tenancy, transfer on death, beneficiary...

Have you spoken with an estate planning attorney before? Have you ever gone online and created Powers of Attorney, Advance Healthcare Directives, or maybe even a Revocable Living Trust? What happens if you don’t have any estate planning documents? If you have not...

When you establish a trust, you name someone to be the trustee. A trustee manages and administers the trust. The job includes - collecting income, paying bills and taxes, saving and investing for the future, buying and selling assets, providing for your loved ones,...

It goes without saying that estate planning is incredibly important and is more than just having a will or a trust. Estate planning offers a sense of security for you and your loved ones that your wishes will be carried out. With such an important and personal...

Why Every Pet Owner Needs to Consider a Pet Trust Today Estate planning is about protecting what’s important to you. Although much of the traditional estate planning conversation focuses on a surviving spouse, children, and grandchildren, many pet owners wonder about...

Although it’s the season of giving, no one has Uncle Sam on the gift-giving list. Luckily, the law provides you many opportunities to give gifts to family, friends, and charities without having to include the IRS.  Some are straightforward, while others may require...

With the fall season in full swing, it’s an excellent time to review your legal affairs. Below is a checklist to ensure your planning meets your needs and is up-to-date: 1. When was your power of attorney last updated? A power of attorney is a valuable legal document,...

There are many ways to own your assets. Some forms of ownership can even avoid probate without the need for further estate planning. It is natural to want your family to share in the bounty of your hard work. As a way to simplify the transfer process and avoid...

The American Tax Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA) introduced us to extended opportunities to use “Portability” as part of the estate tax unified credit.  As part of the estate tax code, each person has a lifetime exemption from gift and estate tax called the “unified credit”...