Most people envision executing a Last Will and Testament when they think about estate planning because for most people a Will is the first estate planning document they include in their estate plan. To create a comprehensive estate plan, however, additional documents and tools will likely be incorporated into your plan. A living trust is one of the most popular of those tools. If you are unfamiliar with how a living trust works, the Kirkwood living trust attorneys at Amen, Gantner & … [Read more...] about Kirkwood Living Trust Attorneys — How Does a Living Trust Work?
Google Announces “Inactive Account Manager”
Social media giant Google recently announced a new account tool that can help you include your e-mail and other electronic accounts in your existing estate plan. While the new tool is certainly helpful, only a consultation with your estate planning attorney will ensure that all of your digital assets are properly accounted for in your estate plan. The new “Inactive Account Manager” tool lets account users decide what will happen to their accounts when the account has been inactive for three, … [Read more...] about Google Announces “Inactive Account Manager”
Estate Planning Tips – Choosing Your Appraiser
Estate planning requires you to make numerous important decisions, each of which can significantly impact your plan. One decision that people frequently underestimate the importance of is whom you choose to use as an appraiser. An appraiser may be needed prior to your death to provide an appraisal for a gift you intend to give. In addition, appraisers are also frequently required to appraise estate assets after your death for the purpose of calculating your estate’s value. While you will … [Read more...] about Estate Planning Tips – Choosing Your Appraiser
How to Prepare for Your Consultation with Affton Estate Planning Lawyers
If you have made the decision to finally get started on creating your estate plan, you have made a wise choice. As you undoubtedly realize, having an estate plan in place is one of the best gifts you can give to yourself and to your loved ones. Having never worked on an estate plan before, however, you may feel a little intimidated about your upcoming appointment. To help put you at ease, and to make the most out of your appointment, the Affton estate planning lawyers at Amen, Gantner & … [Read more...] about How to Prepare for Your Consultation with Affton Estate Planning Lawyers
Affton Veterans Benefits Lawyers — Are You Getting the Benefits You Deserve?
Without the men and women who serve in our Armed Forces, the rest of us in the United States could not go about our daily lives with the sense of security we have learned to enjoy. Members of our Armed Forces literally agree to give their lives to protect us. Those who do not have to make that ultimate sacrifice devoted years of their lives to protecting the rest of us. If you are a veteran, a surviving spouse, or a dependent, you may be entitled to a number of benefits because of your sacrifice … [Read more...] about Affton Veterans Benefits Lawyers — Are You Getting the Benefits You Deserve?
Planning for the Worst
No one likes to dwell on the possibility that a serious accident or illness can suddenly take them from their loved ones; however, it can happen. If that occurs, are you prepared? What will happen to your children? Your bills? Your finances? You? With just a small amount of preparing, you can ensure that all of those issues are covered in the event of your sudden death or incapacity. Consider the following planning list: Guardianship of your children – be sure to nominate a guardian in your … [Read more...] about Planning for the Worst
Dynasty Planning
The primary goal of estate planning is to determine what will happen to your estate assets upon your death. While this is certainly an essential and important goal, you may wish to do even more. If, for example, you are passing down a substantial estate and/or a family business, you may wish to continue influencing financial decisions for years to come. To do this, you need a dynasty plan. Imagine, for example, that you pass down the family business to your children. Not long after your … [Read more...] about Dynasty Planning
Appointing a Trustee—Questions to Ask
A trust can be an excellent addition to just about any estate plan. A trust can help reduce your tax burden, avoid probate and allow you to control how your assets are used even after you are no longer here. Although there are a multitude of different types of trusts that you can choose from, they all require you to appoint a trustee to oversee the trust assets and ensure that the beneficiaries benefit from the trust as intended. Who you appoint as trustee is a very important decision and one … [Read more...] about Appointing a Trustee—Questions to Ask
How to Take Advantage of the Annual Gift Tax Exclusion
As most taxpayers with even moderate estates already know, the passage of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 made permanent the current lifetime exemption limit of $5 million (adjusted each year for inflation) to the gift and estate tax. This means that a taxpayer can make gifts over a lifetime up to that amount without incurring gift taxes. While this is certainly welcome news, there is even more you can do to limit your gift and estate tax exposure. Using the annual gift tax exclusion … [Read more...] about How to Take Advantage of the Annual Gift Tax Exclusion
What Is the Medicare 3 Day Hospital Stay Rule?
If you have an older loved one who is facing health related issues you likely already know how complicated the Medicare system can be to navigate. A specific coverage issue has created a problem for a number of Medicare recipients recently that you may need to be aware of in the event that your loved one is ever transferred to a skilled nursing facility or rehabilitation center from a hospital. As a general rule, Medicare benefits do not include coverage for long-term care facilities. There … [Read more...] about What Is the Medicare 3 Day Hospital Stay Rule?
