When was the last time you checked your IRA accounts to see who you named as beneficiary? Certain types of accounts and insurance policies, which provide for a beneficiary designation, such as 401(k) plans, IRA accounts, life insurance policies and bank and brokerage accounts are not generally part of your probate estate when you die….
No one wants to think about what would happen if they or a family member suddenly became ill or was seriously injured. Unfortunately, when we don’t plan for such possibilities, it can cost us in terms of loss of control over medical decisions, added stress and significant financial and legal problems. There are 3 important…
As we all know from the recent articles and news reports, the new Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 has many aspects. Although the new law did not repeal Federal estate and gift taxes, it has temporarily doubled the exemption amount applicable to each person. But be warned, the disparity between the Federal estate…
Like it or not, Donald Trump is the President of the United States. The landscape for estate planning, and specifically, estate tax planning, may greatly change under a Trump administration. Regardless of whether Trump’s proposals are passed in 2017, it’s a good time to review your estate plan and understand how it could be impacted…
No matter the size of your estate or the complexity of your circumstances, it is important to have the proper estate planning documents in place to protect you, your family and your assets. Unfortunately, many people fail to have any plan in place, and even if they have something, they are often outdated, incomplete or…
Now that your child has reached the age of 18 and may be starting college or has entered the workforce, there is something very important that you as parents should do, and that is to ask your son/daughter to sign a Power of Attorney and a Healthcare Proxy naming you as their agent. Why? In…
The New York State budget passed on April 1, 2014 includes dramatic changes to the state estate and gift tax laws. Bellow is a brief summary of the most important changes affecting New York trusts and estates. It would be prudent to contact your attorney to discuss how these changes affect your estate plan and…
Naming who should get your life insurance money after you die sounds simple, but designating beneficiaries can get tricky. Mistakes are common, and when made, they can be heartbreaking and expensive. When mistakes are made you’re not creating problems for you, you’re creating problems for the people you leave behind. HERE ARE EIGHT LIFE INSURANCE…
