Estate Taxation
Lions and tigers and bears . . . Ever since the estate tax was instituted in 1916, whatever an individual owns has been subject to the federal estate tax upon his or her death — until 2010, that is. The estates of those dying during that year were entirely free from federal taxation because Congress could not reach an agreement extending the federal estate tax in some form. An agreement...
Read MoreEstate Planning Fees
How much do you charge for estate planning documents?” or “How much does a will cost?” These are the most asked questions of estate planning attorneys. Fees generally are less than you fear but more than you wish to pay — but hey, you’re not buying a flat screen tv here. It really IS about your family’s security, and estate planning costs are a significant...
Read MoreEstate Planning FAQ
Why should I pay a lawyer a lot of money for some simple documents? You can buy software that produces most of the estate planning documents an attorney will prepare for you. Using such documents could turn out all right for you and your heirs, but things could go horribly wrong as well, and you’ll never know if you did it right until it’s too late. You could end up paying a nursing...
Read MoreWhy You Need A Will
Contrary to a widely-held belief, dying without a will doesn’t mean your property passes to the State, which then uses the money to buy new park benches. Instead, local laws determine your estate’s beneficiaries; these are the laws of “intestacy.” In most states, one half of non-jointly owned property (titled in your name alone) passes to your spouse, the other half to...
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