Seems like the subject of estate taxes becomes part of every politician’s election promises, and today’s election environment is no different. Even though we are not really expecting significant changes in that area, estate taxes have changed dramatically, and some folks may still be uncertain about how those changes relate to them.
Read More »Former NBA Star Could have Future Ex-Wife Making Medical Decisions
Lamar Odom and Khloe Kardashian may appear to be split on reality TV, but on paper, their divorce is not final. That could leave the former NBA player’s estranged wife with the role of making medical decisions for him. Odom, who has an address in Henderson, and Kardashian both signed off on their divorce in […]
Read More »Special Needs Attorney Testifies Before Congress
Richard A. Courtney, President of the Special Needs Alliance (SNA) and principal in the Courtney Elder Law Associates section of Frascogna Courtney, PLLC, testified Friday, September 18 before the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Health in favor of the Special Needs Trust Fairness Act (H.R. 670).
Read More »Money and Estate Planning Issues for Unmarried Couples
Whether a couple is married or unmarried, there are invariably many money issues for them to consider – and some valuable financial moves to make. Here are some tips for those in the not-married camp. A bad way to manage your joint and separate finances is to just wing it. Do so, and one or […]
Read More »Leaving Your Tattoos Behind
If you want to make many people say “Ewww” and leave your tattoos behind permanently after you pass away, a new service will let you do that. Many people spend a lot of time and money on their tattoos. To them, it is a form of expression and art.
Read More »Can a Lawyer Profit From an Unethical Will He Drafted?
A recent appellate court decision in Michigan means that it is possible for attorneys to be unethical and still profit from the wills they create. Every state has a basic ethical rule for attorneys: an attorney cannot draft a will for a non-relative that includes a substantial gift for the attorney. The theory behind this […]
Read More »Jimi Hendrix’s Missing Guitar
The estate of Jimi Hendrix has seen more than its fair share of legal controversies. In yet another legal battle, the estate is suing for the return of a guitar it claims was stolen. Jimi Hendrix owned a lot of guitars, but relatively few of them made it back to his estate after he […]
Read More »Making Charitable Contributions Work
While you’re alive and have philanthropic goals, give appreciated assets held in a taxable account to charity. For charitable bequests, designate your IRA or tax-deferred employer retirement plan. Why? Suppose a hypothetical Al Cole wants to give $10,000 to charity this year.
Read More »What to Do to Reduce Estate Taxes
If you plan on leaving a sizable amount of money to your heirs, it’s understandable to be concerned about estate taxes. After all, the top Federal estate tax rate of 40% could take a nasty bite out of a multi-million dollar estate, and that’s not including any state taxes that may apply. With that in […]
Read More »Gift Giving and What to Do About IRS Form 709
Most people give gifts all the time without even thinking about the potential tax ramifications. Yet technically, whenever you give something to someone, you have to follow the gift-tax rules. Fortunately, those rules don’t require you to file a gift tax return every single time someone celebrates a birthday or other special event, but it’s important […]
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