Courts Rule Against IRS in Defined-Value Transfer Cases; Clear the Way for Using Hard to Value Assets to Optimize 2010 Tax Act Gifting Possibilities

Posted on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Alpharetta, Georgia—May 9, 2012—Defined-value transfers, a mechanism for gifting hard-to-value assets, has long been a target of the IRS, with the agency often arguing the legitimacy of the strategy then attempting to revalue the assets for a higher amount at… read on

 

Ethical Wills Revisited: What you really want to communicate to your loved ones

Posted on Monday, May 7, 2012

Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance directives for health care are all legal documents which deal with your assets and your health. These are important estate planning documents, and you should work with an experienced and competent estate planning… read on

 

Time is Running Out for Those Who Want to Save Taxes and Provide Huge Benefits to Their Loved Ones!

Posted on Friday, March 23, 2012

As readers of our newsletter should already be aware, the 2010 Tax Act is set to expire, or “sunset,” at the end of  2012.  This means that the laws regarding the federal wealth transfer taxes, which are the gift, estate… read on

 

The 2010 Tax Act, Gifts, and Perpetual Dynasty Trusts – The Perfect Estate Planning Combination

Posted on Tuesday, January 31, 2012

One of the many provisions of the tax law which became effective on December 17, 2010 (the “2010 Tax Act”) was a provision which effectively created federal gift and generation-skipping transfer (“GST”) tax exemptions1 of $5,000,000 for each individual U.S.… read on

 

Long-Term Trust-Based Planning Makes Focusing on Intent More Important

Posted on Wednesday, November 2, 2011

What is your true estate planning intent? Let this question sink in for a moment, then think about it again: What is your true estate planning intent? How do you want your loved ones to benefit from the assets you… read on

 

Possibly The Best Way to Pass Assets On To Your Children or Other Loved Ones: GST Planning – Part Two

Posted on Wednesday, June 29, 2011

In our last newsletter, we introduced the concept of “GST planning,” which is, in essence, estate planning using the generation-skipping transfer (“GST”) tax exemption in conjunction with long-term trusts to provide great benefits for the intended beneficiaries of a gift or inheritance. Last month’s newsletter article discussed the GST planning option, along with its incredible potential benefits and flexibility. We focused on trying to explain what GST planning is and what it can offer. In this issue we’ve focused on things you should keep in mind and consider when you decide to include GST planning in your own estate plan. read more…

 

Possibly the Best Way to Pass Assets to Your Children or Other Loved Ones: GST Planning – Part One

Posted on Friday, June 3, 2011

Eventually, we all pass on. At that point, assuming we didn’t die broke, we will usually leave some form of inheritance to people who survive us. Some of us also may also want to make gifts to our loved ones before we die. Proper estate planning allows you to control who will receive a gift or inheritance from you, and to decide how the recipients will benefit from the assets. Proper estate planning… read more

 

Fiduciary Selection: A Critical Part of Any Well-Prepared Estate Plan

Posted on Thursday, May 5, 2011

by Richard M. Morgan & Loraine M. DiSalvo In the estate planning context, a “fiduciary” is someone who will serve in a role of authority with regard to you, your assets, or your minor children. Fiduciary roles which may be… read on

 

Same Sex Couples: If You Really Care About Building a Life With Your Partner …… You Need to Do the Planning Now!

Posted on Thursday, May 5, 2011

Everyone needs comprehensive estate planning. However, same sex couples need it more than most because partners are treated as strangers under most federal and state laws, which means that they can not rely on the laws to help protect their… read on

 

Estate Planning for Same Sex Couples

Posted on Thursday, May 5, 2011

By Loraine M. DiSalvo, Esq. I. Everyone Needs Estate Planning; However, It Is More Critical For Some People. A. Estate Planning is Not Just for the Wealthy. You do not need to be wealthy or to have an estate tax problem… read on