For many people, inheritance taxes can impose a substantial burden during a time of grief where there is enough stress and change to navigate already. They can seriously impact one's ability to ensure that one's heirs and beneficiaries are well provided for, and they...
More than six years after the death of legendary soul singer James Brown, the South Carolina Supreme Court issued a critical ruling that may finally allow a legal dispute to wind down. At his 2006 death, Brown left a detailed will and trust indicating that he wanted...
Establishing a revocable living trust can prove wise, according to one estate planning attorney. What is a revocable living trust? It's a living trust established with your own assets and under your terms. It can be changed or terminated at any time before your...
Caring for a child with special needs is something that is close to the heart of a good number of Americans. This is a particularly important issue dealt with in estate planning. Many parents facing this issue aren't sure where to begin, though. While there are...
Our New Jersey readers may have heard of the troubles regarding Whitney Houston's estate, particularly with respect to her daughter Bobbi Kristina. Houston left a total of $20 million in trust to her now 19-year-old daughter, and this has been a source of contention...
In our last post, we began speaking about specific ways to keep your estate out of probate. Probate, depending on the state one is in, can be a time-consuming process and expose one's family affairs to legal battles open to the public eye.Some prefer to avoid such...
Even as we age, we never stop filling out paperwork. This is especially true for parents of children with disabilities seeking to set up a trust for their child. Decisions about this process may affect the parent's own eligibility for Medicaid. To qualify for Medicaid...
Establishing a living trust has its benefits, but not necessarily all those typically hoped for. While some people may want to avoid probate court by having a living will in place, this may not be the best reason. In New Jersey, the costs of probate relate directly to...
In our previous post, we began looking at some things to take into consideration when selecting a person to manage trust assets. As we've already mentioned, the size and complexity of trust assets can be a large factor in determining who will be the best selection....
Trusts are a common instrument used in estate planning, and are very versatile. Trusts can be used for businesses, protecting children, and tax planning benefits, but regardless of the reason a trust is set up for, a trustee will have to be selected to be in charge of...
