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.
Special Needs Guardianship Can Be a Challenge
Guardianship can be a challenging topic for many families. Guardianship needs to be separated into two distinct time periods: while parents are still alive and after parents die.
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.
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.
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 For example, a trust may have become outdated because of changes in tax laws, the birth or death of family members, or special circumstances like an heir’s disability.
How Does a Bull Market Affect My Estate Plan?
2019 was a wild year in the market, but in the end the Dow ended up 23 percent year over year. The S&P 500 went up 29 percent over the year, and the Nasdaq climbed 36 percent. In fact, the market is up about 60 percent since Donald Trump was elected President of the United States. Those are some pretty impressive gains.
What’s the Best Thing to Do with an Inherited Investment?
Receiving an inheritance can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it's overwhelming, thanks to the intense emotions associated with losing a loved one combined with the confusion about what to do with the newly acquired assets. On the other, an inheritance can re-invigorate your finances and create new opportunities for you and your family.