by Arthur Geffen | Jan 10, 2013 | Estate Attorney, Estate Lawyer, Estate Planning, Estate Planning Solutions, Estate Tax
The New Year’s Day fiscal cliff bill, which ended an 11-year period of uncertainty about estate tax exemptions and rates, also made permanent a wonderful break for widows and widowers that was set to expire after a two-year introductory period. Starting...
by Arthur Geffen | Jan 7, 2013 | Estate Attorney, Estate Lawyer, Estate Planning, Estate Planning Solutions, Estate Tax
The last-minute tax deal cobbled together in Washington contained several key elements for estate planning. Now advisors can break the good news to wealthy clients: Permanence The estate and gift tax provisions of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 are...
by Arthur Geffen | Jan 3, 2013 | Estate Attorney, Estate Lawyer, Estate Planning, Estate Planning Solutions, Estate Tax
Now that the fiscal cliff has been averted — at least temporarily – there is widespread confusion about the effect on estate planning of the 11th hour tax law passed by the Senate on New Year’s Eve, and by the House of Representatives one day later. Mostly what...
by Arthur Geffen | Sep 19, 2012 | Estate Planning, Estate Planning Solutions, Trusts
"Put not your trust in money, but put your money in trust," counseled Oliver Wendell Holmes more than 100 ago. The advice remains sound today — depending, of course, upon whether you know how to choose the appropriate trust for your...
by Arthur Geffen | Sep 10, 2012 | Estate Planning, Estate Planning Solutions, LGBT, LGBT Issues
Several challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act could reach the Supreme Court within the next year, but only one involves the estate tax that surviving same-sex spouses are forced to pay when a partner dies. The consequences can be severe, as Edith Windsor,...
by Arthur Geffen | Sep 10, 2012 | Estate Planning, Estate Planning Solutions
For married couples with total assets (including insurance benefits) totaling $2-$5 million, a disclaimer trust (otherwise known as a “wait and see” trust) may prove to be the simplest way for you to retain control over your assets and limit paperwork and tax...
