Last week, the Uniform Law Commission drafted the Uniform Fiduciary Access to Digital Assets Act, a model law that would let relatives access the social media accounts of the deceased. Digital estate planning has become a hot button issue in estate planning and technology law. What exactly happens to our digital…
When people die, their assets (cash, real property, investments, savings, car and so on) become the property of their estates. And each estate is obliged to pay all debts, costs, taxes and other liabilities due before it distributes what's left over, according to the deceased's wishes, to the beneficiary or…
Income inequality and the estate tax continue to be hot button issues in American politics and culture. Americans have a wide array of opinions about these two linked topics. Comedian John Oliver recently gave his humorous thoughts on them. More and more Americans, especially younger Americans, want to be entertained…
Every so often, a client will come in and announce that he or she needs a revocable trust. Typically the request stems from something the client has read in a book or article, or perhaps advice from a neighbor or friend. Of course, not everyone needs a revocable trust … …
Philip Seymour Hoffman did everything in his power to make sure his children were "normal." When the Capote actor died of a heroin overdose in February, he left the bulk of his estate to his partner, Mimi O'Donnell, and added the unusual request that their offspring be raised outside of Los Angeles. According to…
Many grandparents want to help their grandchildren pay for college, but don't know the best ways to do that. Financial advisers who can show them how to make those contributions and reap financial advantages for themselves can shine. Many families struggle enough to meet their current needs that they just…
Even with its funny name, a QPRT can save you hundreds of thousands of dollars in estate taxes after your death for your Houston family. Let's take a closer look at what the Clintons did and whether the same strategy could help you. While QPRTs are complicated trusts, the basics…
If Lou Reed had used a revocable living trust, and transferred his assets into the trust during his life, then all of this information would have been kept private. No one would know how much he had, whom he left it to, or how much his executors were charging. When…
No matter what steps you take or what laws are eventually passed, managing a digital estate for a loved one will always be a long, arduous, and painful process. Digital estate planning is popping up in the news more and more as people are trying to figure out how to…
Family limited partnerships seem like an almost foolproof idea: A client can shield just about any amount of money from creditors while maintaining full control of the assets, and getting tax advantages to boot. But they’re not for everyone, and there can be serious pitfalls to an FLP that is…