For most of us, what to do with our remains after we die is not a controversial issue. We put some thought into whether we want to be buried or cremated, and where our burial plot will be, so that our wishes can be expressed in a will. But as with so many other things, …. Read More
A good estate plan considers what will happen to all of your valuable assets. This includes the obvious things like bank accounts, real estate, investments and ownership of a business. But nowadays, many estate planning attorneys are asking their clients what they own on the Internet as well. What happens to your online digital assets matters. A …. Read More
When you hear the phrase “offshore account,” it is likely that your mind immediately conjures up a shady character who is trying to conceal “dirty” money from the government. This is a stereotype in movies; but it also happens in real life. However, that stereotype obscures the fact that offshore accounts can be properly used …. Read More
Most readers realize that as time passes and people come in and out of our lives, it is important to keep our estate plan up to date. For example, after a divorce, it is likely that one would no longer want a portion of his or her estate to go to his or her now-ex-spouse. …. Read More
The rock star Prince once sang, “You don’t have to be rich to be my girl.” You also don’t have to be rich to take advantage of a trust when setting up your estate plan. Though many people believe their assets are not valuable or complex enough to justify using a trust, the fact is …. Read More
People with significant assets may have to consider whether the estate tax will take a portion of their finances after they pass on. The tax can be quite high, and currently applies when the estate is valued at $5.25 million or more. However, there are ways to create an estate plan that minimizes or eliminates …. Read More
Fans of the long-running television sitcom “The Simpsons” may recognize the name Sam Simon. He helped create the series in 1989, and though he left the show in 1993, he is still listed as an executive producer at the end of the credit sequence to this day. That producer credit has allowed him to earn …. Read More
Parents who are creating their estate plan may want to keep their children’s age in mind. When the unthinkable happens while the children are still young, trusts exist to oversee the funds and pay the child’s expenses until he or she is old enough to handle it on his or her own. The question is, …. Read More
Most parents have disagreements with their adult children sometimes, but only in a relatively few cases do these disputes develop into a full-blown rift. When a parent no longer feels a connection to a child, he or she may wish to exclude that son or daughter from his or her estate plan. Generally, anyone can …. Read More
On behalf of Louis Pacella, Attorney at Law posted in Estate Tax on Thursday, July 18, 2013 The U.S. Supreme Court recently ruled that the federal Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional, a decision that made headlines in Los Angeles and around the world. DOMA’s defeat means that same-sex marriages performed in states that allow such unions are …. Read More
