When Can Estate Assets Be Distributed?
Many estate executors focus on estate taxes and forget about income taxes. That can be an expensive mistake.
Can Estate Planning Reduce Taxes?
Once more hesitant to plan ahead, clients in today’s environment are much more proactive and willing to take action in the near term, rather than waiting and risking having to pay higher taxes down the line.
Can I Add Children’s Names to my House Deed?
It’s true that if your child is on your deed as a joint tenant on your home, your home will not have to go through probate if your child survives you. At your death, your surviving child would immediately become the sole owner of your home without probate and with minimal transfer costs.
How to Handle Cryptocurrency in a Will
The rapid rise in circulation and growing popularity of cryptocurrencies is prompting attorneys and estate planners to adjust, as digital assets are inherited through wills, trusts and estates, according to experts who warn of the danger of lost or misappropriated assets.
Why Do I Need a Last Will?
If you die without a will, you die “intestate” and your assets will be distributed according to your state’s law. That could result in a distribution you didn’t intend.
Inheritance Alternatives to a Stretch IRA?
Leaving behind a huge tax bill for your heirs with the stretch IRA scuttled? Here are some ways around it as lawmakers consider an updated SECURE Act.
How Do I Talk to My Parents About Estate Planning?
If you have a parent over the age of, say, 65, thoughts about their future may have started to creep into your mind. But because end-of-life planning can be emotional and overwhelming, it’s tempting to put these conversations off — and even more pleasing to avoid them altogether. If there’s a lesson to be learned from the pandemic, however, it’s that waiting until the last minute to prepare is seldom a good idea.
What are My Responsibilities if I’m Named an Executor?
If a loved one asks you to be the executor of their estate, think carefully before you take on this responsibility. While you have the option of declining the request, the person reaching out likely considers you to be responsible and detail oriented. An executor of an estate typically helps file paperwork, close accounts and distribute the assets of the deceased.
Why Is Estate Planning Review Important?
Your estate planning is done, but is it? A periodic review is an important ongoing step to your planning.
What If an Estate Owes Back Taxes?
My mother passed, and she was an administrator of my grandfather’s estate and the inheritances. The estate accumulated quite a bit of back taxes over the years. Will the IRS put a lien on that estate as well as hers to retrieve funds?
