With the increased coverage of artificial intelligence (AI) and all of the applications it can have in our everyday lives, some people may wonder whether an AI program can create an estate plan for them. While AI may be able to generate basic estate planning documents, including wills and trusts, there is...
Category: Taxes
Estate Plan Lessons from DeMuth v. Commissioner
Lifetime gifts are a popular way to reduce estate and inheritance taxes. Currently, only estates worth $12.92 million or more are subject to the federal estate tax. Twelve states and the District of Columbia levy an additional estate or inheritance tax.
To lower their taxable estate at death, an...
How the Corporate Transparency Act May Impact Your Estate Plan
Starting on January 1, 2024, under a new law called the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), owners of certain business entities must file a report with the federal government including details regarding the ownership of their entity. The CTA was enacted to help combat money laundering, financing of terrorism, tax fraud, and other...
Assembling Your Own (Estate Planning) Team
Some of us may enjoy games like fantasy football that allow us to assemble our own star team with the players we think will provide the most value. While fantasy football is fun to participate in, have you ever given thought to the importance of establishing your own dream team? Just like...
You Can Benefit from Giving Gifts
A benefit of working hard is sharing the fruits of your labor with your loved ones. However, gift or estate tax consequences may impact high net worth clients when they share their wealth. By crafting a comprehensive estate plan, we can address these concerns and protect high net worth clients and their...
Estate Planning News You Can Use to Beat the Heat of Uncertainty
Just as spending a day under the summer sun without proper protection can leave you with a painful sunburn, an unfinished or out-of-date estate plan can inflict harm on you and your loved ones. In this newsletter, we explore the importance of creating a comprehensive estate plan to protect your legacy and...
What the Administration’s 2024 Revenue Proposals Mean for You and Your Estate Plan
Introduction
On March 9, 2023, the Biden administration released a proposed budget for fiscal year 2024, calling for an increase in federal spending along with a series of counterbalancing revenue raisers. The budget was outlined in a document called the “General Explanations of the Administration's FY2024 Revenue Proposals,” otherwise...
How a Community Property Trust Could Save You Money in Taxes
When it comes to your family’s legacy, every dollar you can save from taxation counts. One way to keep your accounts and property out of the hands of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is to form a community property trust.
How Does a Community Property Trust Work?
Investment and Distribution Trustees: Why Would I Need Both?
When creating a trust, it is common to name yourself as the initial trustee who is responsible for all aspects of administering the trust. However, when considering who will take over when you can no longer act (either because of illness or death), it is sometimes helpful to divide the responsibilities between...
Time to Brush Up on Your Estate Planning Etiquette
Important Probate Rules You Should Know
When a person dies, what happens next depends on whether the deceased person had any foundational estate planning documents such as a last will and testament (otherwise known as a will) or trust, who the living relatives are, and their relationship to the...