Single with a net worth less than $11.4 million in 2019? You’re in luck—you can die knowing that all of your money will pass free of any federal estate tax to your heirs. It was good news for the wealthy—the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) amped up the unified…
Remember that estate planning is not just for the wealthy, and now that the federal exemption is so high, not just for the billionaires either. Estate planning is also much more than a will. Your estate plan has a lot of work to do for you, both while you are…
To make sure that your wishes are carried out, you’ll have to do your homework. Make sure that you cover these most important documents. The last thing you want to do, is leave a bureaucratic mess for your loved ones when you die. Not only will it cause the family…
“Solo agers or Elder Orphans face unique challenges, as their needs begin to change.” Did you know that a study from the Pew Research Center says about 20% of the 75 million baby boomers don’t have children—a figure that’s double what it was in the 1970s and one that’s expected…
Even when planning for competency issues is in place, there can still be problems. When a highly-intelligent public figure makes decisions his kids thinks are wrong, who is right? The case of Buzz Aldrin, who is taking his son and daughter to court on charges of fraud, conspiracy and exploitation…
Having a will prepared is a gift of kindness to your loved ones. They will appreciate the effort to care for them, after you’ve passed on. If you need another reason to have a will prepared, consider the potential for conflict among loved ones who will have to guess about…
Without a will, decisions about your life, property and children will be made by someone who does not know you or your family. With a will, you have the ability to express your wishes. You need a will! Having a will is not just for wealthy folks, who need to…
The saying “little children, little problems, big children, big problems,” is particularly appropriate for parents of special needs children. Preparing for the next phase takes time, so it’s best to begin the process, once they celebrate their 17th birthday. One of the many decisions that parents need to make before…
It sounds like a nightmare scenario, and for many elderly, it is a reality: a court appoints a guardian and they lose the ability to make decisions about their assets and their lives, often with no advance warning. An article in Reuters reports on a journalist’s investigation that revealed a…
An estate plan does a lot more than distribute your assets among family members and organizations that share your values. It also protects you and your loved ones. That’s why everyone needs an estate plan, especially if you have minor children. It’s amazing that some people still think they don’t…