Articles
A 2014 Handwritten Will of the “Queen of Soul,” Aretha Franklin, Declared Valid by Jury
The estate of Aretha Franklin became the center of a family dispute after the “Queen of Soul” died in her Michigan home on August 14, 2018, at the age of 76. Franklin was initially thought to have died without a will or trust in place to guide the disposition of her sizeable estate.
NEWS ALERT: New Will Probate Requirements to Notify Beneficiaries, Effective July 1, 2023
Georgia has a new probate law going into effect on July 1, 2023 that imposes new and additional requirements on appointed Executors. The new statute, Official Code of Georgia (“O.C.G.A.”) § 53-5-8, requires an appointed Executor to send a notice of that appointment to the beneficiaries under the Will.
Choice of Fiduciaries: An Extremely Important Aspect of Your Estate Plan
When structuring an estate plan, most people will give little thought to the selection of their various fiduciaries. Your fiduciaries are the individuals or professionals who will carry out your intent under your estate plan.
Estate Planning for Married Couples with Children from Prior Relationships (Blended Families) and for Couples without Children (Updated December 2022)
Estate planning for blended families and for those without children can raise difficult issues, but viable options normally exist to keep the parties satisfied. Blended …
2023 Tax Year Estate Planning Related Tax Exemption Figures as Adjusted for Inflation
While high inflation is generally bad for the economy, the upside is that various tax figures adjust upwards for inflation on an annual (or other) …
Letter of Instructions: Significantly Reduce the Hassle on Your Chosen Fiduciaries (Updated February 2023)
A Letter of Instructions (LOI) is a written or electronic document that sets out all the information that your fiduciaries will need to help assist you if you ever become incapacitated during your life and/or eventually upon your passing. Yes, it will take some effort…
Portability Can Now Be Elected Up to Five Years After Date of Death Without the Need for Private Letter Ruling Where an Estate Tax Return (IRS Form 706) Was Not Otherwise Required to be Filed [Rev. Proc. 2022-32]
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has provided good news to many families by effectively extending the time to file an IRS Form 706 and make …
IRS Issues “Anti-Abuse” Clawback Proposed Regulations: Important for Those Attempting to Utilize the Temporarily Doubled Basic Exclusion Amount
As we discussed in several prior Newsletters, the 2017 Tax Act temporarily doubled the exemption from the Estate and Gift Taxes, known as the Basic …
