Johnson Law Firm
A simple will works for some people, but maybe not for you. Are you in a second marriage? Have minor children? Concerned about fraud? These are just a few of the many reasons to consider a trust.
If you live in an apartment building or a multi-story house, you may dread taking the stairs each day. And, if you’re older, you might think that dodging the stairs means you’re less likely to stumble and trip. However, in reality, walking up a couple of flights of steps actually does plenty to preserve your balance as you age.
It’s easy to overlook an important task after a spouse or other loved one passes away – like retitling assets. It’s a little thing with big ramifications. Follow this checklist to help make a challenging time less confusing.
Many people don’t realize the extent of their electronic and digital lives and the potential problems they’re leaving for others to deal with.
Portability allows spouses to combine their exemption from estate and gift tax. This allows a surviving spouse to use the unused estate tax exemption of the deceased spouse.
If you anticipate inheriting a 401(k) from a parent, a spouse or someone else, it’s important to know your options for minimizing tax liability.
Death, while inevitable, is not often predictable. This can leave many people financially unprepared if their spouse suddenly dies–especially if the deceased was the one that took care of the household balance sheet.
Property law can be complex and arcane, even for lawyers and judges. The rule against perpetuities is an example of how older property laws can influence how families transfer and inherit property rights.
Accidents happen. Illnesses can strike anyone unexpectedly. So, take a moment to get a few basic estate planning tasks out of the way. You—and the people you love—will be glad you did.
Even Consumer Reports suggests working with an experienced estate planning attorney to make sure documents are correctly prepared.
