The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) effectively doubled the unified federal gift and estate tax exemption — and annual inflation adjustments have boosted it even further. For individuals who
Asset protection is a smart way to shield your wealth from lawsuits and creditors. In today’s lawsuit-prone world, one legal issue or debt could undo years of financial progress. Without
For many people, pets are more than just animals — they’re cherished members of the family. Yet, their future care can be overlooked when it comes to estate planning. Including
One question the family of a deceased person often asks is: What happens to debt after a person dies? It’s important to realize that a person’s debt doesn’t simply vanish
Married couples often assume during estate planning that simply naming each other in their wills or designating each other as beneficiaries is sufficient. However, unintended consequences can result if you
It’s not uncommon for an estate plan to contain multiple trusts. They can enable you to hold assets for and transfer them to beneficiaries, avoid probate, and possibly reduce estate
Members of the sandwich generation — those who find themselves simultaneously caring for aging parents while supporting their own children — face unique financial and emotional pressures. One often overlooked,
If you’re considering making asset transfers to your grandchildren or great grandchildren in your estate plan, be sure to address the federal generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax. This tax ensures that
“Decanting” an irrevocable trust allows a trustee to use their distribution powers to transfer assets from one trust into another with different, often more favorable, terms. Much like decanting wine
When it comes to estate planning, many people struggle with the important decision of whether to share the details of their plans with family members. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer —
