Unclaimed Property -What is it, Where to find it, and Its Impact on Estate Planning and Administration For most of us, every penny counts, so it is almost inconceivable that we could have lost track of any money or property. Regardless of how careful we are with our finances, it is possible for utility deposits, [...]
COVID-19: A Reminder of Why Estate Planning Is Important Coronavirus has been all over the news—and with good reason. For some people, it can turn into a serious illness if contracted. Thankfully, for the great majority of people who have contracted the disease, the symptoms appear to be relatively mild. Nevertheless, it is crucial for [...]
National Genealogy Day: Investigate the Past and Impact the Future Genealogy has long fascinated many people, and it continues to be studied by those who are interested in discovering who they descended from and what those family members were like. Many of us have gazed at black and white or sepia-tone photos of ancestors whose [...]
Ancillary Probate: When Is It Used, Where It Occurs, and How to Avoid It Many people own property in more than one state—perhaps a vacation home in Florida, a rental property in a former home state, or even a car titled in another state. It is important to think about how that property will be [...]
Writing Your Own Obituary as an Addition to Your Estate Plan An obituary can be much more than just a dry announcement of the time and location of your funeral or memorial service. It can be a way to share your life story, communicating information about significant events and people, as well as important values [...]
Spring Cleaning: Time to Clean Up Your Estate Planning Your estate plan, like your home, periodically needs a thorough polishing. Your life circumstances are constantly changing, and an estate plan that perfectly met your needs a couple of years ago may now be cluttered with outdated provisions or documents. With spring fast approaching, now is [...]
Reconsidering Your Role in Others’ Estate Plans (How to Say No) It is important to think carefully about your ability or willingness to serve as an executor or trustee for someone else. If a family member or friend has asked you to serve as the executor of his or her estate or as trustee of [...]
Estate and Gift Tax Clawbacks: Taking Advantage of Current Laws Before the Law Changes Again In 2017, when Congress passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, it doubled the gift and estate tax exclusion amount, but that law is set to expire on December 31, 2025. How does this temporary change affect gifting strategies between [...]
A Primer on Asset Protection Law Clients often ask us about the best way to protect their assets from unnecessary taxation, risk, and potential unknown creditors. Other clients are surprised when we explain that their assets may be exposed to these kinds of liabilities. There is a common misperception that asset protection in Mesa, [...]
5 Questions Every Estate Plan Should Answer 1. What will happen to my kids? In the event of a tragedy, this is the first thing that goes through every parent’s mind. Yet, despite this important concern, we often prepare more detailed instructions to our babysitter who will be watching our kids for an evening, [...]
