Compliments of Our Law Firm, Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys In the 21st century, most of the issues surrounding equality of the sexes have been resolved. Women are no longer relegated solely to the role of housewife and mother and the younger generations generally accept the idea of gender equality without giving it much thought. Equality, however, does not preclude differences. One area where it is important for women to recognize those differences is in the … [Read more...] about Women and Estate Planning – Debunking the Myths

Compliments of Our Law Firm, Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys In the 21st century, most of the issues surrounding equality of the sexes have been resolved. Women are no longer relegated solely to the role of housewife and mother and the younger generations generally accept the idea of gender equality without giving it much thought. Equality, however, does not preclude differences. One area where it is important for women to recognize those differences is in the area … [Read more...] about Women and Estate Planning – Debunking the Myths

Preparing for Your First Estate Planning Consultation  Compliments of Our Law Firm, Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys You’ve made the decision to focus on your estate plan. It’s an important time and you’re not quite sure what to expect before meeting with an estate planning attorney. Odds are, it’s not nearly as overwhelming as you’re anticipating. There are a few things you can do to ensure you’re well-prepared for your first estate planning … [Read more...] about Preparing for Your First Estate Planning Consultation

Owning Overseas Property Increases the Need for Estate Planning  Compliments of Our Law Firm, Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys Despite living in one of the largest countries in the world, Americans often yearn for the opportunity to own property outside of their homeland. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis, American investment abroad reached almost $5 trillion in 2015. If you own property abroad extra care must be taken in the … [Read more...] about Owning Overseas Property Increases the Need for Estate Planning

Redskins Owner’s Estate Goes Into Overtime – Lessons from Jack Kent Cooke’s Estate  Compliments of Our Law Firm, Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys Jack Kent Cooke is widely regarded as the greatest owner in the history of professional sports. He was also well known for his attention to detail and uncanny business acumen.. When it came time to create his own estate plan, however, he left much to be desired. Although you may never own a professional sports team or the … [Read more...] about Redskins Owner’s Estate Goes Into Overtime – Lessons from Jack Kent Cooke’s Estate

How to Lend a Hand and Save Taxes  Compliments of Our Law Firm, Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys With the proliferation of 24-hour news, it seems impossible to turn on the television, chat on social media, or pick up a newspaper without hearing about yet another natural disaster that has left people hurt, hungry, homeless, or worse. Whether the cause is a tsunami in Indonesia, a deadly disease epidemic in Africa, or a hurricane here in the United States, the pleas … [Read more...] about How to Lend a Hand and Save Taxes

Estate Planning Lessons – Wesley Snipes and the “Pure Trust” Argument  Compliments of Our Law Firm, Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys You have likely heard the old adage “The only sure things in life are death and taxes.” In the United States, the adage certainly applies. Without a doubt, most Americans pay their share of taxes. Americans also like to find creative ways to reduce their tax burden. Using legitimate tax reduction strategies is perfectly legal; however, … [Read more...] about Estate Planning Lessons – Wesley Snipes and the “Pure Trust” Argument

Compliments of Our Law Firm Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys Are you curious what Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, universally regarded as one of the world’s most private women, did with her fortune? What about Anna Nicole Smith, Paul Newman, or even Elvis Presley – are you interested in knowing how they distributed their fortunes? Surprisingly, it is relatively easy to find out their dispositive plans for their estates because each one used a Last Will and Testament in … [Read more...] about What’s the Big Deal about Probate Avoidance?

Compliments of Our Law Firm Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys Even if you have never needed to rely on Medicaid before to help with your health care costs, the odds are good you will need to as a senior. Why? The answer can be found in the high cost of long-term care (LTC). At an average yearly cost of over $80,000 nationwide, and an average length of stay of 2.5 years, it should come as no surprise that over half of all seniors in need of LTC rely on Medicaid to … [Read more...] about Medicaid Asset Transfer Rules – When Gifting Can Cost You

I was Appointed Trustee of a Trust. Now What Do I Do?  Compliments of Our Law Firm, Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys During the creation of a Trust, a number of decisions must be made. One of the most important of those decisions is who the Trustor (the person who establishes creator of the Trust) will appoint as the Trustee. Ideally, the Trustor will discuss the appointment with the prospective Trustee at the time the Trust is created; however, that does not always … [Read more...] about I was Appointed Trustee of a Trust. Now What Do I Do?