by Arthur Geffen | Jan 18, 2018 | Estate Planning, Estate Planning Solutions
Got a dusty old binder with your will and estate plan? Even if you had your paperwork set up a few years ago, all of your documents are now out of date, thanks to new tax laws that went into effect at the turn of the year. “Blow the dust off and see if it’s...
by Arthur Geffen | Aug 30, 2017 | Estate Planning, Estate Planning Solutions, Estate Tax
The estate tax is a 40 percent levy applied to the portion of an estate valued at over $5.49 million for individuals or $10.98 million for couples. It’s a tax that applies only to the very wealthy, with only one out of every 500 taxpayers paying the tax....
by Arthur Geffen | Aug 1, 2017 | Dallas Estate Lawyer, Dallas Probate Lawyer, Estate Planning, Estate Planning Solutions
Most people think of trusts as something that only the super-rich need: a mysterious legal trick to evade taxes (and rack up tons of attorneys’ fees). In reality, trusts can be helpful for folks at any income level and are much more commonplace than most...
by Arthur Geffen | Apr 7, 2016 | Estate Planning
The loss of a loved one is a traumatic event and it can be among the most challenging of times to make important financial decisions. Proactive planning with an attorney and financial planner can significantly lessen the burden. Here are a few things to...
by Arthur Geffen | Mar 21, 2016 | Estate Planning, Trusts
Bypass trusts, or B trusts, have long been used as a strategy to help families avoid estate taxes. But with recent changes in income tax and estate tax rates, in many cases B trusts now trigger substantially higher capital gains taxes for beneficiaries or heirs...
by Arthur Geffen | Mar 15, 2016 | Estate Planning
Joe has an estate plan that was completed 15 years ago. Now 66 years old and considering retirement, he recently reviewed the plan and found he was not comfortable with it. It includes a typical A/B trust for him and his wife Mary (age 64) and an irrevocable...
