Jamie Held

Jamie Held is the principal attorney at Held Law Office. Jamie's practice focuses on estate planning and probate. Jamie is also a CPA with nearly five years of tax experience in Big Four public accounting.

Permanent Estate Tax Relief


January 3, 2013
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Congress passed The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 on January 1, 2013.  Among its many provisions are the following pertaining to estate taxes:

Minnesota Estate Tax Changes May Be on the Horizon


December 26, 2012
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The Minnesota Department of Revenue (“DOR”) is preparing a report that analyzes Minnesota’s current estate tax laws. The report will provide the Legislature with options to consider for changes to or elimination of the estate tax.

Hope Lodge


November 19, 2012
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I am familiar with the American Cancer Society; as I am sure most people are … their healthy living campaigns, push for early detection, and tireless efforts researching cancer causes and cures.  However, the American Cancer Society offers a great deal more, particularly in the area of supporting those currently undergoing treatment for cancer.  I was […]

End of Life Decisions with a Guardianship


October 29, 2012
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Earlier this month, a Hennepin County District Court Judge addressed the questions, “Who has the power to decide if a person under guardianship should be allowed to die?  Should it be the guardian …?  Should it be the Court …?”

Guardian & Trustee … should they be one in the same


September 17, 2012
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I often get the question, “should our guardians and trustees be the same people?”  I always give the same answer, “I cannot answer that for you because I do not know the people in your lives, but I can give you some things to consider.”

QR Codes … for Estate Planning?


August 3, 2012
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QR codes, those squares made of square dots arranged in a pattern that you scan with your smart phone, are popping up everywhere these days.  Consequently, I was not at all surprised when I saw a story on the local CBS evening news … QR Codes On Headstones: Preserving Personalities Of Those Passed.

Mom, Dad, are your financial affairs in order?


July 13, 2012
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While speaking to clients regarding their estate plan, the topic of conversation often shifts to … “I wonder if my parents have done any planning?” As we get further into the discussion of expenses – the cost of funerals, burials, cremation, estate administration, etc., I regularly hear … “I am concerned about my parents’ financial […]

Technology Outpaces the Law – Assisted Reproduction


June 25, 2012
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Historically, determining a decedent’s heirs was easy – determine all of the decedent’s living family members on the date of decedent’s death and if decedent’s wife was pregnant on the date of his death, wait to see if the child is born alive.  Now, however, science has provided us with the ability to freeze genetic […]

Portability & Gifting


December 17, 2011
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I recently wrote about portability, specifically, what it is and how to elect it.  This post takes it one step further, discussing how portability and gifting interact.

Baby Boomers Leaving Less to Children


November 8, 2011
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I read a recent “LA Times” article and the message hit home.  My parents have been telling my sisters and me for years now that we are receiving our inheritance when we need it most … now, for expenses such as our education, purchasing our first homes and our weddings.  Apparently my parents are not […]

What is Portability?


October 31, 2011
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2010 Tax Relief Act The 2010 Tax Relief Act (a.k.a. The Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010) provided us with a $5 million federal estate tax exemption and a federal estate tax rate of 35%.  It also introduced a feature called “portability” (see previous Epilawg articles summarizing the 2010 Tax […]