Blog Author: Stephen C. Hartnett, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Director of Education,American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.As 2019 has drawn to a close and a new decade dawns, we need to think of…tax planning! Some years Congress tweaks the laws more than other years. This was a relatively quiet year for changes. Still, even in a quiet year, some things change due to inflation increases, etc.Estate Tax PlanningApplicable Exclusion rises from $11.4 million in 2019 to $11.58 million … [Read more...]
The Questions of Estate Planning, Part 6: Why
Blog Author: Stephen C. Hartnett, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Director of Education,American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.Estate Planning is often misunderstood. People often think it’s only for the really rich, the really old, or both. But the truth is Estate Planning is appropriate for all of us. Any of us could have a tragedy strike, even early in life. And it’s not just our death that Estate Planning considers, it’s also for our incapacity. Estate Planning can provide sophisticated … [Read more...]
The Questions of Estate Planning, Part 5: How
Blog Author: Stephen C. Hartnett, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Director of Education,American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.Estate Planning is often misunderstood. People often think it’s only for the really rich, the really old, or both. But the truth is Estate Planning is appropriate for all of us. One of the most frequent points of misunderstanding is that we focus on “who” we want to receive our assets, rather than “how” they should receive them.For some beneficiaries, an outright … [Read more...]
The Questions of Estate Planning, Part 4: Where
Blog Author: Stephen C. Hartnett, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Director of Education,American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.Estate Planning is often misunderstood. Questions often arise regarding “where.” First, where should you go to do your Estate Planning? The answer is simple, an attorney who focuses their practice in Estate Planning (or the related areas of Estate Planning, Elder Law, and Taxation). Estate Planning is far too intricate to rely on a general practitioner. You certainly … [Read more...]
The Questions of Estate Planning, Part 3: When
Blog Author: Stephen C. Hartnett, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Director of Education,American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.Estate Planning is often misunderstood. People often think it’s only for the really rich, the really old, or both. But the truth is Estate Planning is appropriate for all of us. Any of us could have a tragedy strike, even early in life. And it’s not just our death that Estate Planning considers, it’s also for our incapacity. Estate Planning can provide sophisticated … [Read more...]
The Questions of Estate Planning, Part 2: What
Blog Author: Stephen C. Hartnett, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Director of Education,American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.Estate Planning is often misunderstood. Some people think it only involves preparing a simple Will. Some think it only involves preparing a Will or a trust. How hard could that be? But it entails so much more than that. It involves coordinating all the various aspects of a person’s assets so they achieve the goals of the person. Typically, this involves a Will and / … [Read more...]
The Questions of Estate Planning, Part I: Who
Blog Author: Stephen C. Hartnett, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Director of Education,American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.Estate Planning considers many factors. But when most people think of Estate Planning, they just think it answers the question of who gets what. Certainly, it should answer that question. But it is so much more. This is the first in a series of articles on the Questions of Estate Planning.While Estate Planning is about more than just who gets what, it does include … [Read more...]
Litherland, Kennedy & Associates is Hosting a Coat Drive this Winter – Join Us!
Litherland, Kennedy & Associates, APC, Attorneys at Law is hosting a coat drive to collect clean, gently worn or new, warm coats November 18th-January 31st at our Campbell office located at 3425 S. Bascom Avenue, Suite 240, Campbell, CA 95008. Area residents are invited to make a difference in our local community by donating to the coat drive and helping us reach their goal of collecting 50 coats and $200 dollars.There are 39 million Americans living in poverty and struggling to pay … [Read more...]
Income Tax Basis
Blog Author: Stephen C. Hartnett, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Director of Education,American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.When we think of income taxes, we think of how much we earn. But, another aspect of income tax is the gain or loss on assets. Income tax basis is central to how assets are taxed in the United States. This is the first of a series on income tax basis. This blog will examine income tax basis, how you get it, and how it gets adjusted. The next article will look at how … [Read more...]
Make Your Own Plan
Blog Author: Stephen C. Hartnett, J.D., LL.M. (Tax), Director of Education,American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.Some people plan their estates carefully. Some people don’t have an estate plan at all. That’s called dying intestate. In that situation, the state in which they live at their death has a default plan for them which determines who gets their assets. The state’s plan might suit them, or it might not suit them at all.For example, Fred was unmarried and had a … [Read more...]
