Let’s say you’ve known for years that you are inheriting your father’s home when he dies. Hopefully, you also know that he has a will that indicates clearly that the house will go to you. Now let’s assume that your father is no longer living in the house and doesn’t need the money from the sale. Perhaps he just moved to assisted living and has long-term care insurance to cover the costs. Or maybe he just
If you don’t want important decisions to be left up to the state when you’re gone, you need a will. If the idea of creating a will feels like you’re tempting fate, think of it as a road map you’re leaving your family, so they don’t have to stress over making the right decisions on your behalf. First, you need to understand the differences between a living will and a last will and testament, usually referred
A Holistic Approach to Your Affairs For many people, especially those approaching middle- or retirement-age, know they should put together a plan for their estate, but feel overwhelmed by the details and options. They continue to put off estate planning for “another day” until, often, it is too late. Younger people also should consider their affairs, because there is no time like the present and because tomorrow is never guaranteed. In fact, putting together a comprehensive
Your home might well be your biggest asset. Many times, parents think about giving their home to their adult children outright while the parents are still alive, or adding their names to the deed. While doing so might avoid probate when you die, it’s also likely to lead to significant gift tax consequences. And if anything happens that could affect your kids’ assets, such as a bankruptcy filing or a lawsuit, your home could suddenly be
In retirement, you might move to a different state for a wide range of reasons, such as being close to your kids and grandkids, or for a warmer climate. Another key thing to consider is the state estate tax. The federal estate tax applies to all U.S. taxpayers, whether they live in the U.S. or abroad. With the current federal estate tax annual exclusion set at $11.58 million, there are many taxpayers who wouldn’t owe an
It’s not new news that many financial investments and bank accounts have taken a hit as a result of the global spread of coronavirus. According to most predictions, it’s likely to take some time for the markets to rally and the economy to pick up again. But there is a silver lining for some taxpayers, who might be able to take advantage of certain estate-planning strategies as a result of the economic climate. Talk to an
The Covid-19 pandemic has offered a great reminder to review the elements of your estate plan. Below are some key items to consider. Set up a call with your estate planning lawyer to consider any specific details related to your own plan. Review your health care proxy and power of attorney: Be sure you are comfortable with your choices of who will make medical and financial decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do
Get Your Affairs in Order For most of us, coronavirus and the threat it poses has made us contemplate the status of our estate plans. As thousands of people in the Commonwealth have died of COVID-19 and its complications, many thousands more are ill, and many, many thousands more face unemployment and financial hardship. There are also innumerable, lesser losses: newborn grandchildren who have yet to meet their grandparents; weddings canceled and postponed; funerals with only
The IRS recently offered settlements to a select number of taxpayers involved in what are known as “micro-captive” insurance schemes. Tax law generally allows businesses to create “captive” insurance companies to protect against certain risks. In abusive “micro-captive” structures, accountants or wealth planners convince owners of closely held entities to engage in schemes that actually lack the protections of real insurance. Under IRS Notice 2016-66, taxpayers are mandated to disclose such transactions due to their potential
The amount of time banks and other financial institutions have to notify people with retirement accounts about new rules for taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) has been extended. Under IRS Notice 2020-06, financial institutions have until April 15 to notify certain people with retirement accounts that no RMD is due for 2020. The new rule was recently enacted under the SECURE Act, increasing the age for RMDs from 70 1/2 to 72. Before passage of the
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