Regardless of the size or complexity of your estate, there are no guarantees that your beneficiaries will agree with the terms of your estate planning documents. For that reason, I suggest that everyone read this article by Ashlea Ebeling on reducing the likelihood of estate litigation. I particularly like #4 “Transfer a Business with a Contract”. If […]
We discuss often here at Epilawg about the importance of having an estate plan in place prior to your death. However, we all know that many die without a will, or intestate, thereby causing state statutes to decide who will receive property and assets of the intestate estate. In other words, the state will decide which family […]
Wellington R. Burt made millions off Michigan’s lumber industry and Minnesota’s iron mines. At one point, Burt ranked among the eight wealthiest men in America. He died on March 2, 1919, leaving an estate estimated, at the time, at $40 million to $90 million. For some his death marked the beginning of a long wait. […]
Although much attention is generally given to the federal estate tax, many never realize or consider that some states also impose their own taxes upon the death of an individual. State Estate Tax Like the federal estate tax, an estate tax imposed by a state is based on the value of the deceased person’s estate, […]
Since I am an estate planning attorney, clients, family, friends, and even strangers, often ask about what happens to any debt they may have at their deaths. Most often, people are concerned about whether loved ones will “inherit” debt. The short answer is that your estate is responsible for paying off the balance of any […]
“Basis” is not something that is simple to explain these days. Up until last week, the basis rules that apply to decedents in 2010 were in limbo. This article WILL NOT cover the advanced estate planning issue of basis allocations in 2010 and how they relate to the federal estate tax. Instead, this is an […]