We often get questions about what to do when a person wants to give up their authority over their personal and financial life. If they do not already have a Revocable Living Trust that provides for a transfer of that authority, then the next best thing is a Power of Attorney (POA). The person who Read the full article…
As one annually services their automobile for an oil change and routine maintenance, it is also prudent to review your trust to confirm that your original documents are consistent with your wishes. At a minimum, one should look at the following provisions of their trust to determine if any changes are required: Successor Trustee – Read the full article…
When considering the creation of a will or a trust, one usually thinks about pre-death planning. However, the beneficiaries have an opportunity where post-mortem planning comes into play. Let’s look at an important post-mortem planning tool – the disclaimer. A disclaimer is a refusal to accept an interest in or a power over property – Read the full article…
A Spousal Lifetime Access Trust (SLAT) is a trust established between spouses. Essentially, one spouse gives the other spouse assets in an amount that uses up the unused Federal Estate Tax Exemption. The trust of one spouse must be materially different from the trust of the other spouse. The reciprocal trust doctrine allows the IRS Read the full article…
In our last article in this series, we covered the different types of trusts that can be established. In this article, we’ll discuss uncommon trusts that can be utilized. Other Trusts That Can Be Established Blind Trust The trustees of a blind trust manage the assets in the trust without the beneficiaries’ knowledge. The beneficiaries Read the full article…
Please note the following updates for 2022 Estate and Gift Exclusions: Estates of decedents who passed away during 2022 have a basic exclusion amount of $12,060,000, up from a total of $11,700,000 for estates of decedents who passed away in 2021. The annual exclusion for gifts increases to $16,000 for the calendar year 2022, up Read the full article…
In the last article in our series, we covered the benefits a trust offers for creators and beneficiaries. In this article, we’ll dive into more detail about the types of trusts that can be established and the pros and cons. Types of Trusts Revocable Trusts Revocable trusts (living trusts) can be changed or canceled at Read the full article…
Please note the following updates for 2022 Estate and Gift Exclusions: Estates of decedents who passed away during 2022 have a basic exclusion amount of $12,060,000, up from a total of $11,700,000 for estates of decedents who passed away in 2021. The annual exclusion for gifts increases to $16,000 for the calendar year 2022, up Read the full article…
In the first article in this series, we covered what a trust is and the type of assets you may transfer to a trust. As a reminder, a trust is a legal agreement between two parties: the trustee and the trustor (sometimes called the settlor or grantor). The trustor is the person who establishes the Read the full article…
In this first article in our upcoming series, we will discuss a trust and the type of assets you may transfer to a trust. Please stay tuned for more related articles coming soon and reach out to our team if you have any questions about estate and trust. A trust is a legal agreement between Read the full article…
