Some people are waiting for the Estate Code to settle. The Bush Tax Cuts of May 2001 expire January 1, 2013. At that time, the Estate Tax exemption goes back down to roughly $1 million. Therefore, any assets you own valued at more than $1 million could be subject to federal and state Estate Tax... [Read More]
Category: Estate Taxes
Taxes Increased Under Obamacare for Investors
Forgotten in the most of the political back and forth over Obamacare, President Obama’s health care law that was passed during his first two years in office while his party held both the White House and both Houses of Congress, was that there is a tax inside that bill. Most of the news has been... [Read More]
Rumor Has It…One Year Extension on Bush Tax Cuts
The most current reliable rumor on backside negotiations between the Republicans and Democrats that effect Estate Taxes and other tax issues is that there will be a one year extension (or “patch”) on the Bush Tax Cuts. As you know, the Bush Tax Cuts that went into effect in May 2001 are set to expire... [Read More]
Asset Protection Workshop – May 30
I will present the workshop “Five Common Asset Protection Mistakes” on Wednesday, May 30, 2012, from 8:00 to 9:00 a.m. The class will provide one hour of continuing education credit from the N.C. Department of Insurance, and is for CPAs, Accountants, Financial and Insurance Professionals. In one hour we will cover: 1. Why you have... [Read More]
7 Major Errors in Estate Planning
Forbes Magazine on April 25 published an article titled “7 Major Errors in Estate Planning.” The seven errors listed are a no-nonsense list of the mistakes we Estate Planning lawyers see daily. They are: 1. “Not having an Estate Plan.” 2. “Online Do-It-Yourself Estate Planning rather than using an experienced Estate Planning attorney do the... [Read More]
Mike Wallace Died Saturday—He Had Dementia
Most people don’t want to plan for their inevitable death, let alone dementia. You can plan within your Living Trust for mental incapacity. You set the panel who decides when it is needed. You choose the doctor and which trusted loved ones turn on the mental disability provisions. Who do your assets pay for if... [Read More]
Analysts Project Estate Tax Exemption Going Back Down to $1 Million and Estate Tax Rates Back Up to 55%
Analysts recently advised that given the upcoming elections, they don’t anticipate Tax Law changes until 2013 or 2014 (click here to read the article). Therefore, they anticipate the Bush Tax cuts expiring on December 31, 2012, leading us back to Estate Taxes being applied on Estates with more than $1 million and Estate Tax rates... [Read More]
Constantly Update Your Estate Plan
You must update your Estate Plan, including your Trust and Will, constantly. The reasons you need to update your Estate Plan – Revocable Living Trust, Will, Health Care Powers, etc. – is that three things are always changing: the law, your relationships, and your assets. 1. The law is regularly changing by changes in the... [Read More]
Why Whitney Houston Shouldn’t Have Used a Will
Unfortunately, Whitney Houston used a Will based Estate Plan. Her “Last Will and Testament,” or Will, was admitted into Probate Court in Atlanta, Georgia. As guessed, Whitney’s 19 year old daughter is her sole beneficiary of the Will with payouts to her at ages 21, 25, and 30. Meanwhile, the Trustee would make payments on... [Read More]
Whitney Houston and Estate Planning – Part 3
As discussed before, right after we hear of the death of a celebrity, we ask, “How?”. Not long after, we ask, “How much money did they leave and to whom?”. Again, Whitney had traveled a troubled road of drug addiction and tough relationships. While alive, she had been separately sued at different times by her... [Read More]