Properly planning and structuring of charitable contributions and gifts can be a huge part of the overall estate plan. There are good and bad ways to give. Ensure that your gift is properly funded and distributed per your wishes by planning ahead of time. This planning may include using charitable…
Newly married couples are embarking on a whole new life together. This new life comes with a number of changes. It is important to consider your estate planning as you begin your life together. Creating an estate plan that works for both you and your new spouse can ensure that…
Planning your estate is an important step in ensuring that you, your loved ones, and your estate will be taken care of in the event of your incapacity or death. A few documents can determine the type of medical attention you receive, who handles your financial matters, and how your…
More and more Americans are getting married multiple times. As multiple marriages become more common, proper estate planning becomes more important. Tools such as prenuptial agreements can create an additional level of protection for you and your loved ones. Protecting Family Heirlooms: Dave & Mary Prenuptial agreements can…
Parents believe that leaving their children the family home is a great boon but experience shows that beneficiaries are not happy with the bequest. For many people in the United States chances are that their house is their most valuable asset. It makes sense then for most parents to leave…
It is common knowledge that in order for a New York will to be valid that there must be other people to witness you signing your will as well as putting down their own signatures on your will. Despite this knowledge though improper execution of the will is the most…
It is not a common situation but it does happen. After you pass, your will is entered into probate and your beneficiaries are notified of your bequests but there is a problem: they do not want it. They refuse to take ownership of the property you have left them and…
PROPOSAL TO MOVE BACK TO PREVIOUS TRUST LAWS As this blog discussed in the recent past, dynasty trusts are trusts that allow for a benefactor to pass wealth on to future generations via various legal mechanisms that allow a trust to carry on for literally hundreds of years, overcoming the…
GOVERNMENT HAS BEST AT HAND – FOR FREE Whenever a taxpayer submits tax documents that deal with a work of art or of cultural significance that is valued at least $50,000, according to the taxpayer’s own estimate, the IRS goes through a process by which it independently evaluates the items.…
DAVID BOWIE BONDS As the world learned, David Bowie passed away on January 10, 2016. Mr. Bowie was always on the leading edge of creativity, an advocate for meaningful social change and a musical genius to boot. He started his musical career at the same time as the Beatles,…