» Estate Planning Lawyer

Come on, Kids! Start Estate Planning!

If you think estate planning is for only the elderly or wealthy individuals, think again. Everyone has collected some stuff, what professionals like to call assets, possessions, investments — and don’t forget the liabilities (debt), like student… Read More
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Estate Planning After your First Child Arrives

When young couples expect their first child, the to-do list never seems to end. From lining up in-home help to managing hectic daily schedules, the process can prove daunting. Then there's financial planning. Financial advisors often urge parent… Read More
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Which Type of Trust is Right for Me?

Trusts can be a great way to update an estate plan, whether within a will or as a separate estate-planning tool. Trusts have a reputation for being something that most people don't have to worry about, with most seeing a trust as a vehicle for t… Read More
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What’s that Document Called Again?

"Mistitling of assets is one of the prominent causes of failed estate plans," asserts Avani Ramnani, CFP®, director of financial planning and wealth management at Francis Financial, a wealth management firm in New York. What might go wrong… Read More
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Special-Purpose Trusts for the Mentally Ill and Those Suffering from Addiction

It was the summer between her sophomore and junior year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison when Patti Sacher’s daughter Keisha had a breakdown. She had taken LSD at a Grateful Dead concert one weekend in 1989. When Mrs. Sacher called to check o… Read More
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The Executor’s Cheat Sheet

One of the most important things someone can do to best ensure their estate is handled without a hitch is to appoint the right person as the estate’s executor, sometimes called a representative. So what do you need to do if you’ve been appointed… Read More
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“Will” You or Won’t You?

Natural disasters happen! Catastrophes! Accidents! Illness! No one gets out of this world alive, but we can plan to make it easier on those we leave behind. If you have accumulated assets or have minor children, you need to do some estate planning. T… Read More
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Know When to Update Your Estate Plan

Updating your estate plan isn't something you think about too often. Why should it be? You're happy, healthy, and you have a good life. Letting the negative "what ifs" creep in only puts a damper on your day. As painful as it is t… Read More
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How to Care for Your Pet … After You Pass Away

We love our pets. Nearly two-thirds of all Americans have a pet, and among those who do, nearly 70% have a dog; 50% have a cat; 11% have fish; 8% have birds; and 7% have horses, rodents or reptiles. Nearly 90% of all pet owners consider their pets to… Read More
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New Regulations Affect Family Limited Partnerships and Family LLCs

The Internal Revenue Service is about to toughen the rules on a type of investment vehicle that has been abused by some very wealthy families to avoid millions of dollars in taxes. The wealthy are allowed to use family limited partnerships, family li… Read More
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