Tag Archives: estate planner

Estate Tax Attorney and Accountant Full Employment Act of 2012

Of course, that is not the title of any piece of legislation, pending or passed. In Obama’s budget proposal, presented the other day, tax rates are raised for the mostly hard-earned (and previously taxed) assets of dead people. In addition, … Continue reading

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Selecting a Trustee: Other Considerations

What criteria do you use to choose a fiduciary or to assist a client in choosing a fiduciary? Many of us, particularly those of us who are professional advisors, are familiar with many of the legal, financial, and even risk … Continue reading

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Why do families fight over an inheritance?

After 28 years+ of experience settling estates and trusts, I could tell many stories about family disputes over an inheritance.  Even in families that otherwise seem perfectly functional, things can get weird very quickly after the death of a patriarch … Continue reading

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Choosing a Trustee – What Characteristics are Needed?

Those Grantors who don’t struggle with the selection of a Trustee probably should.  I’ll confess that poor Trustee selection creates revenue opportunities for me, either through the cost of cleaning up a Trust mess or as an expert witness in … Continue reading

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Estate Planning for Digital Assets

Oddly, Idaho and Oklahoma are the only two states that have statutory provisions for the probate of digital assets.  Increasingly, estate planners are going to need to consider ways to protect and pass along digital assets.  Here is a great … Continue reading

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Form and Substance: Estate of Paul H. Liljestrand v. Commissioner

Form and substance are equally important which, while having specific application to the failed family limited partnership discussed in the article linked below, has broader philosophical application in life. But that is the subject of another blog. Estate planners must … Continue reading

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Is the Trustee you’ve selected qualified and prepared?

Excellent guidelines to use in choosing the appropriate Trustee for your trust(s).  The answer is not as simple as you would think. Who is Fit to Be Trustee? Ask me about Trustee Scorecard (TM)

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Joint Ownership of Property Between Generations

I can’t think of any situation where its advisable to use joint ownership where there’s not a better solution, except to keep people like me employed as an expert witness in the resulting litigation. Top 5 Reasons to Beware of … Continue reading

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Why Wealth Disappears

Business owners and those who advise them should take note. Why Wealth Disappears.

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Avoiding Heir-raising Horror Stories

Encourage your clients to plan intentionally for their children.  They do their children no favors when the kids are given responsibilities for which they are unprepared. Goodbye Family Fortune

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