Estate Planning Blog

But if you're new to Social Security, it's important to know what to expect. Here are a few aspects of the program you should be aware of.

In a season of economic unease, inflation, and changing state laws, strategies like trusts, trust protectors, and a clear purpose statement in your estate plan ensure that your assets and values transfer according to your wishes.

The terms ‘revocable trust’ and ‘living trust’ are commonly heard in an estate-planning context. You may hear people say, ‘My house is in trust for my children,’ or something along those lines.

Often clients are anxious to make annual gifts with the mistaken belief that their heirs will pay a tax at their death.

Wealthy taxpayers are hurrying to use the increased estate tax exemption amount before it potentially expires at the end of 2025.

Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts (MAPTs) are a strategic way to qualify for Medicaid benefits and to preserve your assets. This blog explores how MAPTs work and their benefits.

Plan your asset transfers and tax-free gifting before December 31, 2025, to take advantage of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act's higher exemption amounts. Most of the TCJA's tax-related provisions will revert to the provisions in place before the TCJA was enacted.

Estate planning is more than writing a will; it’s a plan to manage and distribute assets to your dependents. It documents your healthcare preferences, so a loved one decides on medical care according to your wishes. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) Adviser’s article, “Estate Planning Guide and Checklist for 2024,” offers a comprehensive overview of what to consider when planning your estate. This blog post distills the key points from the article and provides an actionable checklist for 2024. Understanding Estate Planning Estate planning organizes your affairs to fulfill your wishes after you pass away. It encompasses decisions about…

For years, practitioners have freely used irrevocable trust decantings as a means to make various changes to irrevocable trusts without concern of giving rise to gift tax consequences.

The Social Security Administration will introduce six major changes to benefits in 2024 that will impact seniors receiving Social Security retirement benefits. Working with an elder law attorney allows retirees to navigate these adjustments and take advantage of strategies to protect assets.