Author Archives: admin

Clients always ask where they should keep their will and important estate documents. As attorneys habitually do, I usually respond: “It depends.” Is your family emotionally supportive and close, or is there contention? Are you ill? Are you healthy; or … Continue reading →

Recently I have completed a great number of advance healthcare directives (also called “Living Wills” in some states) for clients. I once read an article which suggested that a Directive was something on the periphery of an estate plan — … Continue reading →

Planning and estates is not just about the money (even though, unfortunately, to many it might seem that it comes down to just that). Planning, actually, is something that has to do with life: How we live; what is important; … Continue reading →

It’s true that my Depression-era grandparents would not have thought much of a pet trust (“Such a waste,” they would almost certainly have said). Yet, pets have become important to the well-being of young and old. As such, it is … Continue reading →

The Arizona Daily Star published an article on March 23, 2009 entitled, You’ll Want To Read this Before You Die, discussing the stress inherent in not having an estate plan in place. The article focuses upon the experience of businesswoman … Continue reading →

I did not know her, but the tax/estate planning blogs I track the closest both report the recent death of Professor Pamela Champine of New York Law School, at the age of 44. Those reports are on the TaxProf Blog … Continue reading →

It’s hard to believe, but even in death murder victim Alice Ortiz is being held to her lease contract by her landlord…to the tune of $2,821.23. I recall reading this sad news story late last year: Alice Ortiz and her … Continue reading →

Previously I mentioned the fact that Congress has waived the Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) requirement for IRAs for this 2009 tax year, However, there are always unintended consequences. Here, certain trusts may not be sufficiently flexible to take this tax … Continue reading →

I received the following e-mail solicitation from Katherine, which I promised to pass along. It is self explanatory, and relates to a cable television program currently in production: “WHAT IS YOUR WILL EXPERIENCE?” Have you ever had a will of … Continue reading →

Have you ever considered the interrelationship between different types of planning? One aspect of planning affects the other. Here are some examples: Estate Planning vs. Financial Planning. With estate planning you plan your estates for the benefit of your heirs. … Continue reading →