Ladies, estate planning is a huge deal for you

It’s one of the most stunning biological facts: Women, throughout the world and regardless of factor, tend to outlive men. As the BBC’s David Robson writes: In 1800, life expectancy at birth was 33 years for women and 31 years for men; today it is 83.5 years and 79.5 years, respectively. In both cases, women […]

You can sell real estate without ANY tax!

Before you sell any real estate, you should contact us. Why? Because we can often help you avoid all of the tax on the sale! We use techniques that can allow you to sell the real estate and either defer the tax or eliminate the tax altogether. We are your Tax Lawyers. Whenever you sell […]

What about your cats and dogs?

Your pets are a part of the family. There’s fond memories, laughs, lots of time spent talking back and forth – and you have a soft spot for them, whether a cat, dog, fish, horse, lizard, or other pet. What happens to them after you pass away? It’s up to you. You can designate specific […]

The nuances of durable power of attorney

You’ve likely heard the phrase power of attorney before, especially if you’ve had any experience with estate planning. But there are some nuances of what a durable power of attorney (DPA) can actually provide – and making sure all of the needed documents are in place for you is what’s essential. For instance, we write […]

Estate planning and your small business

Estate planning for your small business is more vital than you may think!

You work hard; in fact, without your long hours, weekends poring over figures, and unwavering commitment to supporting yourself and your loved ones, the small business you’ve built and established wouldn’t exist. You won’t take unnecessary risks to put that work in jeopardy, either – instead, risks are calculated before deciding if expansion, carrying a […]

How often should I update my estate plan?

With anything relating to your family’s long-term security, there is no “set it and forget it” method that guarantees everything will be optimal. Your estate plan, much like many other aspects of your life planning, need a checkup every few years. We typically recommend our clients come in every three years for a thorough look-through […]

“How do I plan well for my baby?”

A new baby? Congrats! Make sure they're mentioned in your estate plan!

Congratulations! You’re expecting a new addition to your family, and it’s bringing a lot of change in many facets of your life. As estate planning lawyers, we’re prone to think long-term about big life events such as the birth of a child. And the answer to the question “How do I plan well?” is easy: Go […]

Online assets and digital estate plans – are you prepared?

What happens to your Facebook account if you pass away? Or those photos you uploaded years ago? Do you write a blog that brings in a measure of advertising revenue? An estate plan can plan for those – and many more – contingencies. Wells Fargo recently wrote an excellent article entitled “Do you have a […]

‘Tis the season of charitable giving

Christmas trees signal a season of charitable giving

According to Charity Navigator, 12% of all giving to charities is done on the last three days of the year. That’s a lot of last-minute charitable giving to have a tax write-off in a few months. For an estate plan, however, it requires much more foresight. Charitable giving involves some estate planning techniques to maximize […]

December means it’s time to review your plan!

Each year, rules change – and the same it true for tax laws governed by the IRS. Adjustments are made every year, and those can have dramatic impact on your estate plan. For instance, the IRS has made it easier in recent years to designate one trust fund for all surviving heirs in particular situations. USA […]