Estate Planning Checklist: 5 Initial Steps You Can Take
Most of us spend little time thinking about death or losing the capacity to manage our own affairs. These are unpleasant topics and banishing them from our minds is easier than entertaining them. Death, however, is inevitable and becoming incapacitated is not likely,...
Inheritance Tax: What States Have It and When It Applies
Inheritance tax is a state-level tax that beneficiaries pay when they receive assets from an estate after somebody has passed away. The inheritance tax is distinct from estate taxes, but planning tools for avoiding or minimizing it, such as lifetime gifting and...
IRS Announces 2025 Gift and Estate Tax Exemptions
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released its tax inflation adjustment figures for tax year 2025. Annual Gift Tax Exclusion Effective January 1, 2025, you will be able to make individual gifts of up to $19,000 in the calendar year (an increase from $18,000 in...
Who Needs a Trust Instead of a Will?
Creating an estate plan can protect your loved ones and establish your legacy. With an estate plan, you can provide for your loved ones after your death, transferring to them such assets as your home, vehicle, bank accounts, and personal possessions, including...