Estate Planning

With the amount of the federal estate tax exemption likely to drop to a lower, but as yet unknown, amount, more clients may be subject to estate taxation. This may mean that a bypass trust is the best plan for more clients, but when the…

Ever since the middle of 2020, there have been rumblings in the estate planning profession; murmurs of tax proposals waiting in the wings, the anticipation mounting as the federal elections (eventually) concluded and the White House and…

The uncertainty that drove a significant amount of estate planning at the end of 2020 has carried over into the new year, with many attorneys drafting trusts for clients in an effort to use the relatively high gift and estate tax exemption…

As estate planners consider potential tax law changes that might occur at the federal level this year, one state is also dealing with a new property tax issue that could impact many clients owning real property in California.

The tax world is likely to change (yet again!) and if so, that will have far reaching economic effects. You and your clients need be prepared...not later this year, not later this month, but NOW. Although we cannot know what will be…

As year-end approaches, many clients will resolve to tackle their estate plan in the new year – particularly those with young children. These clients of course want to take care of their family members, but are often not familiar with…

If you haven’t heard, it’s true—Bob Dylan sold the rights to his music publishing catalog Why, you ask? The short answer, and the one that has fans and the internet grumbling, is money. Estimates put the value of the sale in the…

Given the current economy and the uncertainty of today’s political climate, many in the estate planning field have their eyes on Washington, D.C., looking to see if dramatic changes to the current transfer tax structure could be imminent.…

The 2020 election demonstrated that the projected Democratic sweep did not occur. Former Vice President Biden won the Presidency but that is still being challenged. The Republicans have control of the Senate it appears, but two runoff…

Election Day 2020 is now behind us. As of this writing, most election results are in, though opinions vary about when we will know the full makeup and distribution of power between the Executive and Legislative branches. Court…