Blog
In my last post, I wrote about how the dollar value you assign to real estate or a business for tax purposes can vary depending on the circumstance of the situation. In this post, I describe 3 different scenarios where our law firm was able to save our clients thousands in taxes. I also describe a scenario where you actually save money by assigning a higher value. Read more
An important part of estate planning is to assign an “estate tax value” to every asset, including interests in real estate and businesses. Assigning the proper value to assets is more complex than you might think. And, if you don’t take full advantage of certain value reducing techniques, you can wind up paying tens of thousands of dollars more in taxes than necessary. In this post, I discuss some of the factors in valuing assets. Read more
Most people who are appointed executors of wills, trusts and estates don’t understand what a complex process they have signed up for; one where if you do things wrong or out of order, you can be held legally liable. In this post, we outline the 9 steps involved in being an Executor of an estate. Read more
This is the second of 2 posts on estate planning issues Alzheimer’s patients and their families need to address as possible after a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s. In his post I discuss the merits of a Trust versus a Power of Attorney, the benefits of transferring assets to the other spouse, and what to do if you’re concerned the Will may be challenged. Read more
Not everyone diagnosed with Alzheimer’s is “old.” In fact 200,000 Americans under age of 65 have it. Alzheimer’s patients and their families need to deal with estate planning issues early, while the person can make informed decisions. This post includes the first 3 of 6 vital estate planning steps Alzheimer’s patients and their families need to take as soon as possible after diagnosis. Read more
Do you understand what you will or trust says? More importantly does your executor? If not, it’s time consider rewriting it. Learn more about the importance of plain English wills and trusts. Read more
Avoiding probate has become a cottage industry, with lawyers touting the benefits of “living” trusts to people who would rather have a root canal than have anything to do with a probate court. For several reasons, avoiding Connecticut probate might not be a good idea. Read more
When someone dies, the person who administers the estate - also known as the executor - has several responsibilities they are legally responsible for. In this post, we discuss what an executor of an estate does and what they need to know. Read more
You may have heard horror stories about “probate.” Many of them are simply not true. In this post, I discuss the myths about probate why they don’t apply to in the vast majority of estates. Read more