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Family Sues to Reverse Brain Dead Declaration

January 12th, 2016

Issues concerning when a person can be taken off life support did not go away when the Terry Schiavo case stopped appearing in the headlines. A current lawsuit in California highlights that the issue is still very much alive. In December of 2013, the… Read More

Tags: Advanced Health Care Directive, Living Will

The Real Tax to Worry About

January 11th, 2016

The federal estate tax might get most of the political headlines, but the truth is that it affects a relatively very small number of Americans. Of far more concern for most Americans is how the federal capital gains tax will impact their estates. If… Read More

Tags: Capital Gains Tax, estate planning, Estate Tax

Charitable IRA Tax Break Made Permanent

January 7th, 2016

The 2006 IRA charitable rollover exclusion was a popular tax break for wealthy elderly people and the charities to which they donate. It has been made permanent. Seniors trying to spend down the size of an estate for estate tax purposes often find it… Read More

Tags: Charitable Rollover Exclusion, Charity, Donations, estate plan, Estate Tax, IRA, Philanthropic Giving, Tax Penalties

Tax Consequences of Inheriting an Annuity

January 6th, 2016

If you inherit a non-qualified annuity, then before you decide what to do it is important to understand the different options and tax implications. Annuities have become an extremely popular tool in people's retirement plans. Like any other asse… Read More

Tags: Annuity, Asset, Estate Attorney, Heirs, Income Tax, Inheritance, Retirement Plan

Planning for Your Passion

December 30th, 2015

Estate planning for complicated financial instruments and business interests is often tricky at best. However, planning for the things people are often passionate about can be the most complicated part of estate planning. When some people think about… Read More

Tags: Capital Gains Taxes, Collectibles, Estate Planning Attorney, Estate Tax Issues, Investments, Passion Assets

Michael Jackson's Estate Sued … Again

December 18th, 2015

It has become an inevitability that just when you think the controversy surrounding Michael Jackson's estate has finally quieted, yet another issue appears in the news. This time it is another lawsuit filed over alleged wrongdoing of the estate&… Read More

Tags: Contract, Estate Administration, Estate Claims

Death, There's an App for That Too

December 17th, 2015

When iPhones first came on the market Apple marketed them with the line "There's an app for that." The idea was that there was an app for anything you could possibly want to do. However, there was not, at the time, an app to plan for y… Read More

Tags: Death Planning, estate plan, Estate Planning Attorney, Funeral Plans

Giving a Home to Stray Cats

December 16th, 2015

People frequently use their estate plans as a way of continuing to support things they love after they pass away. One woman in Italy recently did so by bequeathing her home to stray cats. The late Fiorella Scannabissi of Bologna, Italy loved cats. Du… Read More

Tags: Charitable Giving, estate plan, Estate Planning Attorney

Air It Out Before It Goes to Court

December 15th, 2015

Family fighting over estate plans and court challenges are sometimes unavoidable. When people feel slighted or have grievances, they often feel compelled to fight to the end. However, it might help to avoid court challenges to your estate plan if you… Read More

Tags: Estate Challenges, estate plan

The Joy of Painting Lives On

December 14th, 2015

Some celebrities continue to have a cultural impact long after they have passed away. Stars such as Marilyn Monroe, James Dean and Michael Jackson have lasting legacies that make money for their estates through licensing of their likenesses and copyr… Read More

Tags: Celebrity, estate plan

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