Renowned fashion designer, Karl Lagerfeld, died on February 19, 2019, at the age of 85.  Lagerfeld was not married and did not have any children, but he is survived by his cat, “Choupette.”  With nearly 300,000 Instagram followers (@choupettesdiary), Choupette … more

> Estate planning is about much more than just who will receive your assets after death. > Proper estate planning can reduce the cost, time and likelihood of conflict when your assets are to be transferred to your loved ones. … more

> Relying on state or federal laws to administer your estate is never advisable. > Beneficiary designations supersede the provisions of a Will or Trust. > By organizing your assets as a part of your estate planning, you can ensure … more

> Every legal adult should ensure that his or her wishes are clearly stated in proper estate planning documents.   > Safety nets available to married individuals with children are not as reliable for single individuals.   > Failing to … more

POWER POINTS > In an effective estate plan, both federal and state estate taxes must be considered. > Flexibility is essential to allow the trustee to maximize the available exemptions or defer estate tax liability for as long as possible. … more

POWER POINTS > The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act increases the estate and gift tax exemption to $11.2 million per person in 2018. > Estate plans that are outdated or fail to consider the estate tax at the state level … more

POWER POINTS > The end of the year presents a great opportunity to review your estate plan, your newly acquired assets and the funding of your Trust. > An unfunded Trust fails to take advantage of one of the greatest … more

Creating a responsible estate plan does not have to be as painful or difficult as many people believe. As a matter of fact, the whole process can be completed within a few weeks. More importantly, once it is complete, you … more

> Removing the counsel of experts rarely results in decreased costs and increased efficiency. > Each asset’s characteristics must be considered carefully when being transferred, whether it is due to divorce, planned giving or death. > Integrating your advisers allows … more

One of the primary techniques used to reduce a person’s taxable estate is making gifts during his or her life to other individuals, usually children or grandchildren, using the annual gift tax exemption ($14,000 in 2017). An individual can make … more