The United States imposes a federal estate tax at death, which is based on the total value of the deceased person’s estate (everything a person owns at the time of their death) and is paid from the estate itself.
In addition to the federal estate tax, some states assess...
Creating an estate plan is a crucial task for any adult, but it is not a one-and-done task. Think of it as an annual physical exam or a periodic review of your investments with your financial advisor; regular checkups of your estate plan are essential to ensuring that it still fits your...
Your estate plan is one of the most important sets of legal tools you will ever create. An estate plan is designed to protect you, your loved ones, and your money and property. It can minimize taxes and fees and ensure that your loved ones are taken care of. Depending on the...
The 401(k) has become one of the most essential tools for building and transferring wealth in America.
As a product of late 20th-century tax policy that shifted the responsibility for retirement savings from employers to individuals, today roughly 6 out of 10 Americans say that they have a 401(k)...
Every year around the holidays, stores and malls across America are transformed into winter wonderlands, complete with elves, ornaments, artificial snow, and larger-than-life decorations.
Many children stare in wide-eyed wonder as they wait to sit on Santa’s lap and answer a singularly important question: What do you want for...
The term homestead may seem like a throwback to pioneer days, but homestead exemption laws are directly relevant to today’s estate planning and can play a valuable role in a modern plan.
Almost every state has some form of homestead exemption law primarily focused on reducing property taxes and...
Creating an estate plan is a huge accomplishment. However, your work is not done when the documents have been signed. You must still ensure that the chosen strategy gives you peace of mind and protects the legacy you have worked so hard to build.
An estate plan is not...
During the holidays, we usually receive at least one gift that, let’s face it, falls a bit flat.
When we were young, it might have been an itchy sweater from Grandma or a toy from Mom and Dad that we had outgrown. As adults, maybe someone got your clothing...
A foster child may come into your life through the court system, an agency, or your own extended family. However it begins, the relationship can grow into something deeply personal, with the unshakable feeling that this child is yours.
However, the law does not always see the relationship that...
