In our previous post, we began looking at durable powers of attorney and how they match up to guardianships. A power of attorney is a document giving another individual the legal authority to act on one's behalf. The scope of that authority can be general or specific,...
In early May, attorneys for the aging actress Zsa Zsa Gabor were set to appear in court for a hearing as to whether the aging celebrity should have independent management of her finances and health care. The hearing was requested by Gabor's daughter Constance...
In New Jersey law, there are not only federal estate tax, gift tax and income taxes to consider, but also state estate taxes and inheritance transfer taxes. Inheritance tax is not due for certain types of beneficiary-specifically, father, mother, grandparents,...
Tax implications are around every corner when it comes to estate planning. Not only is there estate and gift taxes to think about, but also income and capital gains taxes to consider. The way one disposes of items in one's plan can trigger different tax consequences,...
In our last post, we began looking at how one can use trusts to protect real estate as part of the estate planning process. We already looked very briefly at irrevocable trusts, particularly Qualified Personal Residence Trusts, and the advantages they offer.Revocable...
Protecting one's real estate assets is an important part of estate planning. Whether one is dealing with real estate connected to a business, rental property, or a personal residence, it is important to consider tools that allow for the protection of these...
In our previous post, we began looking at a legal dispute over the estate of deceased actor Gary Coleman. As we noted last time, Coleman's ex-wife and an ex-girlfriend are both laying claim to his estate. The size of Coleman's estate is unknown, though court documents...
Because it makes for interesting writing for this blog, we love to see estate disputes make headlines. Well, we don't love it exactly, as much as see it as an opportunity for discussing the important of cleaning up one's estate planning. Because, while few estate...
The most important thing we try to emphasize on this blog, in addition to various tips relating to specific aspects of estate planning, is the importance of writing a will. This means that one should not procrastinate.As a recent USA Today article points out, around...
