What Are the Duties of Your Power of Attorney After You Die?
Wednesday January 30, 2013
Sorry, this is a trick question, but it comes up frequently. Here's the scenario: mom or dad has recently passed away and the son or daughter, who is ... Read More
States With an Estate Tax or Inheritance Tax in 2013
Tuesday January 29, 2013
Since the American Taxpayer Relief Act did not bring back the pickup tax - much to the chagrin of states like California, which was counting on it coming back - ... Read More
How to Locate Massachusetts Probate Records Online, and Florida Probate Records Too
Monday January 28, 2013
Thanks to Massachusetts real-estate, probate and estate-planning attorney James Haroutunian, I have learned that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has made its probate dockets available online. The nice thing about ... Read More
Should Your Facebook Account Become a Probate Asset After You Die?
Wednesday January 23, 2013
Lawmakers in Virginia think so. After the 15-year-old son of Diane and Ricky Rash, Eric, committed suicide in January 2011, the Virginia couple turned to their son's Facebook account ... Read More
2013 Estate and Trust Income Tax Brackets
Tuesday January 22, 2013
The IRS has released Rev. Proc. 2013-15 which sets forth the inflation-adjusted income tax brackets for 2013. Below are the income tax brackets that will apply to estates and ... Read More
Will Lady Gaga Help Michael Jackson's Estate Restore Neverland Ranch?
Monday January 21, 2013
Rumor has it that pop singer Lady Gaga wants to buy a piece of Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch so that she can help to restore the infamous property to its ... Read More
Messy Fight Expected Over Singer Jenni Rivera's Estate
Wednesday January 16, 2013
Back on December 9, 2012, the private jet that was carrying Mexican-American banda singer Jenni Rivera crashed near a ranch in the state of Nuevo Leon, Mexico. The two pilots ... Read More
No Surpise Estate Taxes Top Wills & Estate Planning Blogs in December 2012
Tuesday January 15, 2013
It should really come as no surprise that with the impending fiscal cliff estate taxes, estate taxes, and more estate taxes topped the most read blogs posted in December 2012, ... Read More
Custody and Estate Battle Brewing Over Daughter of NFL Linebacker Jovan Belcher
Monday January 14, 2013
A custody and estate battle has begun over Zoey Michelle Belcher, the infant daughter of deceased Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Jovan Belcher, who murdered the infant's mother, Kasandra Perkins, and ... Read More
France's 75% Income Tax Struck Down By High Court
Wednesday January 9, 2013
Back in November I wrote about the growing world trend to impose special taxes on the wealthy: Moving to Avoid Taxes? It's a Global Initiative. This article discussed the 75% ... Read More
And Now, the Top 20 Wills and Estate Planning Blogs of 2012
Tuesday January 8, 2013
It's that exciting time of the year again - time to post the top twenty most read wills and estate planning blogs during the previous year. The impending fiscal ... Read More
What Does the American Taxpayer Relief Act Say About Estate Taxes, Gift Taxes, and GST Taxes?
Monday January 7, 2013
On January 2, 2013, the American Taxpayer Relief Act ("ATRA" for short) became law. Now that the dust has settled, here is a quick summary of the changes that ATRA ... Read More
2013 Estate Tax and Fiscal Cliff Update - Senate Passes American Taxpayer Relief Act, House Balks But Passes it Too
Tuesday January 1, 2013
This morning at 1:39 a.m. EST, the Senate passed the American Taxpayer Relief Act by a margin of 89 Yeas to 8 Nays (and 3 not voting). The bill is ... Read More