Why Do I Have to Do a Probate When I Have a Trust? As an estate planning attorney, one of my least favorite conversations with a new client starts with me saying “I’m so sorry, but unfortunately, even though you have a trust, we are going to have to do a probate.” Clients are surprised to learn that this can…
Many people believe that everything automatically passes to their spouse upon their death, regardless of how property is titled or any estate planning documents prepared. In some cases, this may be true. However, there are several situations where this may not be the case, and the surviving spouse may either not receive the property or may experience difficulty gaining access…
Big Three from Episode #060: Finding out what’s important to people – who they are and what they like is key to helping maintain quality of life. Work with someone local, knows the communities, assess clients, and have a physical presence. Who pays for long-term care and senior living communities? We do with our assets that we save, long-term care…
Big Three from Episode #057: The current estate tax exemption is $11.7 million, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t file. Estate tax returns are not easy, but they are worth it. Margaret’s expert opinion: If you can take advantage, file it. An estate tax return is not an income tax return. It’s an inventory of your assets, your deductions. It’s…