The law created a chance for wealthy families to move assets out of their estates and let their heirs benefit from any appreciation in value, said Lisa Featherngill, a managing director at Abbot Downing, a wealth-management unit of Wells Fargo & Co. According to official numbers recently released by the…
If you or a family member land in the hospital as an observation patient and think you should be admitted, it’s better to act sooner than later. When it comes to whether or not care is covered by Medicare, the distinction between being "admitted" or just "under observation" is critical.…
Without a plan in place, you risk burying your family in red tape as they try to get access to and deal with your online accounts that may have sentimental, practical or monetary value. Just when you think you've covered all your bases when planning for your estate, the issue…
"Pet trusts aren't just for the wealthy," says Frances Carlisle, a trust and estates attorney in New York. For most pet owners, she adds, the goal "is to make sure a plan exists for the care of the animal." Do you own a pet? It seems as though more and…
Just when is the DSUE [Deceased Spouse Unused Exemption] available to a surviving spouse or the estate of a surviving spouse for use in determining the surviving spouse’s applicable exclusion amount? It can be very challenging to stay on top of federal estate tax law changes. For instance, experts and…
We say it over and over again. Check your beneficiary forms! Don't let your retirement funds go down the drain. Anything involving the court system is rarely quick and painless (probate anyone?). Fortunately, IRAs can easily be transferred to your loved ones outside of probate simply by completing a beneficiary…
Giving back is about linking passion with action, and it does not have to be complex—but it does have to be well thought out to be effective. As many well-to-do but generous Americans can attest, your philanthropy can do more than just help the cause or causes important to you.…
You might be a candidate for a trust that you never needed before. A trust is a great tool within an estate plan, one with unique goals depending upon the one making the plan. Some goals are very common, while others don't exactly follow the mainstream. A recent lighthearted Forbes…
The process of selling a relative’s home is likely going to be emotional, from the sorting of the personal belongings to the finalization of the sale at the closing table. Expect that. And surround yourself with professionals who will be empathetic and helpful. Many would agree that selling a home…
My mother gave me money in 2009. Now (2014) she is in a nursing home and needs to get Medicaid. Does that money need to go back in her account because of Medicaid's five-year lookback? Medicaid is wound tight with very well-intentioned rules to stop people from taking advantage of…