‘Tis the 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 […]
New law in place working against popular Social Security strategy
Heads up: The White House recently signed into law a provision ending the popular “file and suspend” method of filing for Social Security. According to CNBC: “Under the current rules, once you reach your full retirement age, you are able to file for your Social Security benefits, but request that such benefit not actually be […]
Rich? Poor? Neither? You need a will
Many people simply don’t have an estate plan – in fact, a large majority of Americans don’t. Whether it’s online assets, your house, or the few things that you call your own, they need a plan to dictate what happens to them. For example, thinking through power of attorney issues is critical to preventing unnecessary […]
What about art?
The New York Times recently published an article entitled, “Estate Planning can get tricky when art is concerned.” The focus is for international art investors, but there are some key takeaways worth noting: Art’s value factors in – and having it appraised as low as possible can help with a tax bill. Think about who […]
Debt and what happens next
Nearly 80 percent of Americans carry some form of debt. It’s common: Student loans, credit cards, auto loans, medical expenses, and mortgages. Chances are, you have at least one of those five types. Some of them are expected and budgeted for, while others are not and can put a major strain on family finances. What happens […]
Consider any sibling rivalries
We often think of sibling rivalries as something that happens when our kids are growing up. They battle trying to be first to the finish line, get the top grades in school, etc. But many times, arguments over who should get what item from a deceased family member can escalate and turn ugly. Consider an article […]
In the News: Don’t wait
If you’ve looked around our site, you know we urge all people at any stage in life to figure out a full estate plan. No one can predict death, but everyone can be prepared and make sure their loved ones or preferred charities receive what you want them to. The Huntsville Item recently ran an article […]
Welcome Back Michelle!
A client favorite, Michelle Burdeshaw, has worked for Rhodes Law Firm since April of 1991. While she took a brief hiatus to pursue a personal business venture in November of 2014, she made her return to the firm the following January to continue what she does best alongside her Rhodes Law Firm family. In her […]
Ransomware and Your Computer
Ransomware is evolving and that’s bad news for just about everybody except cyber thieves. Ransomware, which is a form of malware, works by either holding your entire computer hostage or by blocking access to all of your files by encrypting them. A person infected with ransomware is typically ordered (via a pop-up window) to pay anything from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars in order to get the key to unlock their encrypted data.