Common Estate Planning Mistakes As an estate planning attorney can explain, there are some people who have very well thought out estate plans, and others who unfortunately have estate plans that fail to carry out the person’s goals and could end up costing their heirs thousands of dollars in otherwise unnecessary legal fees and court […]Continue reading

If charitable giving is important to you, consider a donor-advised fund (DAF). A DAF — typically sponsored and managed by a community foundation or commercial investment company — offers many of the benefits of a private foundation at a fraction of the cost. Upsides of a DAF A DAF allows you to make tax-deductible contributions […]Continue reading

April 18, 2022, is the deadline for filing your federal income tax return. Keep in mind that the gift tax return deadline is on the very same date. So, if you made large gifts to family members or heirs last year, it’s important to determine whether you’re required to file Form 709. Filing Requirements Generally, […]Continue reading

Purchasing land or purchasing a home can be as stressful as it is thrilling. Selling land or a home can be as stressful as it is lucrative. The same can be said for renovating, adding on to, or otherwise undertaking a construction project on your existing residence. Similarly, the business stakes attached to purchase, sale, […]Continue reading

Estate planning is an important part of life. It ensures your loved ones are cared for after your passing and will also make sure that your wishes are carried out, even when you are no longer here. Estate planning is essentially a final gift you can give to your friends and family. If you have […]Continue reading

Trust Lawyer A living trust is defined as being a legal document, or trust, that is created during a person’s lifetime (trustor) where a designated person (trustee) is given responsibility for managing the trustor’s assets for the benefit of eventually becoming beneficiary.  A living trust has been designed to allow for a seamless transfer of […]Continue reading

Ways a Will Executor May Abuse Their Role We entrust executors with their authority to handle an estate and communicate with loved ones. Putting faith into someone to manage what you have built over a lifetime isn’t easy, so it’s important to choose a person who will always have your best interests at mind and […]Continue reading

You are going through a nasty divorce and have been faced with the task of responding to your current spouse who wishes to divorce you. This does not make you happy, however, your statement or response is necessary to complete this task. If you are too difficult, you may be served with a subpoena. No […]Continue reading

Designing an estate plan can be a delicate balancing act. On the one hand, you want to preserve as much wealth as possible for your family by protecting it from estate taxes and creditors’ claims. On the other hand, you want to have some control over your assets during your life. Unfortunately, these two goals […]Continue reading