News & Articles

So how should Americans working abroad or with a financial life in two countries manage their finances? Traveling abroad can be exhilarating enough, but living abroad comes with a whole other level of excitement … and even some hitches if you aren�… Read More

Google on Wednesday became one of the first major Internet companies to put control of data after death directly into the hands of its users. Technology has changed the way we view assets, as we now have virtual assets to protect in addition to our t… Read More

Although the new $5.25 million exemption shields the vast majority of estates from federal taxes, state estate taxes are alive and well. Currently, 21 states and the District of Columbia impose some type of death tax, and most kick in at a level much… Read More

That an entity has been effectively organized, and recognized by the IRS as tax exempt is no guarantee that it is being operated as a charitable entity.  A good rule of thumb is that a charitable entity’s general and administrative expenses sh… Read More

Why do otherwise doting pet parents fail to make such plans? Most people assume they’ll outlive their pets, says Barry Seltzer, a Toronto-based estate lawyer and co-author of Fat Cats & Lucky Dogs: How to Leave (Some of) Your Estate to Your Pet… Read More

In family businesses, there are two main ways stock gets diluted: it gets passed on to employees or it’s passed down through the generations.  We often see the first situation occur in families when owners give out shares to non-family executi… Read More

How do children nudge often-reluctant parents toward making sound and fiscally smart decisions about the future of the family home? The family home is more than likely the most important or valuable asset in one’s estate.  So it makes sense to… Read More

The Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA) and the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (UTMA) are sometimes called the “granddaddies” of college savings accounts. Both allow parents to establish custodial accounts for a minor child, and a grandparent can… Read More