October 6, 2021 •
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It can be easy to overlook, but an estate plan is essential for nearly everyone, whether you have a lot of money or just a little. An estate plan tells your heirs and the courts how to divide up your assets. However, it also helps protect your loved ones from unnecessary hassle and expense – as well as potentially months, even years, tied up in the court system settling your estate.
Read MoreSeptember 23, 2021 •
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The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act raised the federal estate tax exemption considerably. Before the tax reform law, it was $5.49 million per person for 2017. It's up to $11.7 million for 2021 ($23.4 million for a married couple).
Read MoreSeptember 10, 2021 •
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Vacation property can become a family legacy. Keeping your cabin, fishing lodge, hunting property or other special assets separate for future generations is often a special goal for a family.
Read MoreSeptember 9, 2021 •
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I’m a trustee selling a home in irrevocable trust for a parent who died. There are two beneficiaries who will get the sale proceeds with a stepped-up basis. I’m filing Form 1041 but do I still have to file a Form 1040 to report anything for the beneficiaries?
Read MoreSeptember 1, 2021 •
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A trust is a legal vehicle that allows a third party, a trustee, to hold and direct assets in a trust fund on behalf of a beneficiary. A trust greatly expands your options when it comes to managing your assets, whether you're trying to shield your wealth from taxes or pass it on to your children.
Read MoreAugust 31, 2021 •
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In her role as Philadelphia Register of Wills, Tracey Gordon has often heard people say they don’t want to discuss wills and estate planning with their relatives because they’ll think they’re out to get them, like it’s some elaborate and sinister plot torn straight from a Hollywood movie.
Read MoreAugust 24, 2021 •
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A second marriage can be a balm for the heartache of losing a spouse, be it through death or divorce. Nevertheless, if there are children or other heirs involved, you should consider carefully what will happen with your money and possessions when you pass on.
Read MoreAugust 20, 2021 •
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If you don’t have a spouse or children, you might think you don’t need to do much estate planning. However, if you have any assets, any familial connections, any interest in supporting charitable groups – not to mention a desire to control your own future – you do need to establish an estate plan.
Read MoreAugust 13, 2021 •
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Trust funds are not just for the ultra-rich. These sophisticated estate-planning tools can make just as much sense for middle-class Americans who own a home and have a net worth of at least $100,000.
Read MoreAugust 10, 2021 •
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If you are drawing up your will and want to leave money to a minor child, using a testamentary trust is one way to do so. This legal document can also be beneficial in other situations, such as if you want to leave an inheritance to someone but aren’t sure they will use the gift wisely.
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