How Bad Can a Do-It-Yourself Estate Plan Be? Very!
One Justice from the Florida Supreme Court commented that the expensive litigation far outweighed any savings resulting from the pre-printed form.
The Latest on Kirk Douglas’ Estate
Old Hollywood didn’t pay stars well by modern standards, but Kirk had the wisdom to own his most iconic films and pour the profit into property. Soon philanthropy will force tough choices. The death of any giant produces shockwaves. Where Kirk Douglas is concerned, those ripples reveal how much the entertainment landscape changed in his lifetime and how much the numbers have grown.
What Exactly Is the Estate Tax?
The estate tax in the United States is a tax on your right to transfer property to other individuals upon your death, according to the IRS. In other words, when you die, the U.S. government might be entitled to a portion of your assets before the remainder can be passed to your heirs. Not all inherited assets are subject to the estate tax. In fact, the U.S. estate tax only affects the wealthiest households.
Does My Mom Have to Pay My Dad’s Credit Card Debt after He Dies?
My father recently passed away and we discovered he had a large credit card debt on a card in his name. My mother wasn’t aware of it. All assets are in both of their names. Is my mother liable for the credit card debt?
The High Cost of Medicare Mistakes
She recently enrolled in traditional (Parts A, B, and D) Medicare and was hit with huge Part B and Part D monthly premiums. She had no idea why it was so high. After many letters, calls, and meetings with Social Security, she still had no idea.
Extra Social Security Benefits for Divorced People
While it's not the best idea to expect your benefits alone to support you in retirement (after all, Social Security is only designed to replace around 40% of your pre-retirement income), some retirees have no other option but to depend on their monthly checks to cover the majority of their expenses.
Avoiding Probate with a Trust
In other words, family members who are not named to inherit anything in the will may still see the list of all of the assets. If you don’t want that result, you can avoid it by establishing a trust.
Estate Planning for Unmarried Couples
The number of unmarried couples who live together reached 18 million in 2016, a 29% jump from 14 million in 2007. Among adults age 50 and older, the increase was 75%: About four million were cohabiting in 2016, up from 2.3 million in 2007.
Fixing an Estate Plan Mistake
Sometimes, despite best intentions and best efforts, an estate plan leaves unintended problems for heirs, trustees and others to solve. For example, a trust may have become outdated because of changes in tax laws, the birth or death of family members, or special circumstances like an heir’s disability.
When Do I Need an Elder Law Attorney?
Elder law issues can be complex. One wrong word or move can mean the difference between a good result and disaster should you become incapacitated or if other unexpected issues should occur in your senior years. An elder law attorney can help you plan for what will happen, if you should become mentally or physically incapable of taking care of yourself and your own personal business matters.