In a sense, an inheritance can be viewed as a gift that is given posthumously. When you give a gift of any kind that is not postdated, you give the gift in real-time. However, if you do not plan your estate optimally, your loved ones could wind up waiting quite a while to receive their inheritances. And, there can be considerable expenses involved that reduce the amount that they actually do inherit. If you use a last will to direct the transfer of your assets, your estate is going to fall … [Read more...] about Developing A Streamlined Estate Plan
British Diva Winehouse Actually Died Intestate
If you die without executing a last Will, you are said to have died intestate. In cases such as these, intestacy laws of succession come into play. The probate court will examine all relevant information and ultimately allow for your assets to be transferred to your legal next of kin. A recent article that is appearing on the Forbes website states that the late British pop singer Amy Winehouse died without having executed a last Will. This new revelation flies in the face of earlier reports … [Read more...] about British Diva Winehouse Actually Died Intestate
Keep An Eye On Tax Debate
Time passes quickly, and most people are firmly embedded in the routine of their day-to-day lives. So, you may not be aware of things that are taking place in Washington that could render your existing estate plan inadequate. With this in mind, we would like to raise awareness about the significance of this calendar year. Whether or not your family is going to be exposed to the estate tax, and how much they will potentially have to pay, varies depending on the parameters that are in place at … [Read more...] about Keep An Eye On Tax Debate
Some Celebs Go The Extra Mile For Pets
When you have extraordinary means, you can do extraordinary things, and sometimes you hear about the lifestyles of the rich and famous and find some of their actions to be a bit excessive. There are a couple of high-profile female celebrities here in the United States who are certainly going the extra mile to provide for their pets in their estate plans. Betty White is an actress who is somewhat of an enigma. She is 90 years old, but advancing age seems to have done nothing to slow down her … [Read more...] about Some Celebs Go The Extra Mile For Pets
Founders Of Facebook Utilized Tax Efficiency Strategy
Observers have long awaited an initial public offering for the wildly popular social networking website Facebook. The founders, Mark Zuckerberg and Dustin Moskovitz, have been in possession of the proverbial gold mine for quite some time, and they have already taken steps to take advantage of the tax efficiency strategy known as the zeroed out grantor retained annuity trust. Zeroing out a GRAT for tax efficiency purposes involves funding the trust with volatile securities, and naming a … [Read more...] about Founders Of Facebook Utilized Tax Efficiency Strategy
A Plan That Fits Your Family
If you have ever watched any old Westerns, you may have seen a lone gunslinger depicted as drawing up his last will on a saloon napkin before he heads out into the street for his next precarious battle. His estate is a simple one; he's got a horse, a saddlebag, the clothes on his back and his side arm to account for, and he hands the napkin to the barkeeper before he heads outside. These days there are people who would have you believe estate planning is almost as simple. There may be no … [Read more...] about A Plan That Fits Your Family
Making A Difference Through Organ, Tissue Donation
You can sometimes take a painful situation and extract something good from it, and this is something to consider when doing estate planning. In addition to making preparations for the transfer of assets to your loved ones after you pass away, you should also consider advance health care directives such as a living will. A living will can be executed with the assistance of a San Jose estate planning lawyer. A living will is used to state your choices regarding medical procedures that you would … [Read more...] about Making A Difference Through Organ, Tissue Donation
Parents Of Dependent Children Must Take Planning Seriously
It is not uncommon to feel as though estate planning is something that only concerns our nation's elderly. After all, the average lifespan exceeds 78 years, so if you're not yet a senior citizen you have plenty of time to worry about it later on, right? Of course, the likelihood of passing away increases as you age, and we all hope that we live long and robust lives. However, there are no guarantees. Tens of thousands of people pass away before they reach the age of 40 every year, and many … [Read more...] about Parents Of Dependent Children Must Take Planning Seriously
Creating a Comprehensive Plan
Advance planning is the key to a comfortable future, and the sooner you get started the better. If you go forward without any type of overarching plan for the future, you may encounter some unpleasant surprises as the years pass and the typical retirement age starts to come into focus. If you strip it down to the bare simplicity of the matter, retirement involves being able to pay your way without working. Most people go to work because they need the money. So, how do you reach the point where … [Read more...] about Creating a Comprehensive Plan
Concerned About A Spendthrift Heir?
There are various steps that must be taken when you are crafting your legacy. For one, you need to inventory your assets in an effort to gain an understanding of exactly what it is that you have to give. You then must situate your assets in the optimal manner to protect them and mitigate asset erosion. In addition to preparing assets for distribution, you also have to consider the unique personalities of the people who are on your inheritance list. If you pass away after living a long life, … [Read more...] about Concerned About A Spendthrift Heir?
