Part II: Why? Framing the Issue. “Art is a nation’s most precious heritage. For it is in our works of art that we reveal to ourselves and to others the inner vision which guides us as a nation. And where there is no vision, the people perish.” ~Lyndon Johnson, on signing the Arts & Humanities […]
Losing a spouse is a heart-wrenching event that can be difficult, if not unbearable, to even plan for. Therefore, many surviving spouses are not prepared for the death of their spouse and subsequently have to deal with financial and legal questions at a time when they are most likely not thinking clearly. This post discusses […]
Below is an illustration (a fictitious one) with three things to consider upon the death of a spouse who owns a business. Henry and Wendy celebrated their 30th anniversary last summer with their two children and three grandchildren. At the time of her death in November 2011, Wendy owned an increasingly successful retail business. Henry […]
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.
When working with clients on their estate plans, one of the most important items to consider and understand is how real estate is titled. First, let’s discuss what “title” means. Title is a legal term that describes a bundle of rights in a piece of property. The rights in the bundle may be separated and […]
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 […]
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 […]
Anyone who attended a Twin Cities Pride event this summer can attest to the vitality of Minnesota’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) community. The turnout and support for the GLBT community proved Minneapolis deserving of the honor, “Gayest City in America,” bestowed on the city earlier this year by The Advocate. As an estate […]
Cost and convenience are often deterrents to completing an estate plan. Consequently, many individuals and couples turn to “Do-It-Yourself” (DIY) options. Plenty of DIY options exist: websites, other online applications, books with CDs, etc. These options are admittedly less expensive; however, you get what you pay for … and that is not much. These options […]
I cannot emphasize enough to my clients the importance of beneficiary designations. A beneficiary designation describes how your assets will be distributed upon your death. It is a form you complete with a financial institution (or your Human Resources department) pertaining to certain assets, for example, when you establish a life insurance policy or create […]
The handsome cat in this picture is Frank Sykora. He is my family’s cat and we love him like he is a human. Frank (or as we refer to him, Frank S.) spends most of his days sleeping and most of his nights protecting our home from critters and vermin. It is a tough job, […]