by John C. Martin | Feb 20, 2013 | Estate Planning for Families
The recent tax legislation dealing with the “fiscal cliff” included significant revisions to the estate tax law that will affect estate planning for the foreseeable future. These revisions include: * The federal gift, estate and...
by John C. Martin | Jan 2, 2013 | Estate Plan Maintenance, Estate Planning for Families
Before any trip, most of us create a “to-do list” of things we have put off and want to take care of before we leave. Here is a checklist of estate planning things to do before you take your next trip. Taking care of these will help you travel with peace of mind,...
by John C. Martin | Dec 27, 2012 | Estate Planning for Families
Not many parents like to talk to their children about their wealth. How much money people have is usually considered a private matter, something it’s not polite to talk about. But not talking to children about how much they may inherit can leave them unprepared to...
by John C. Martin | Dec 14, 2012 | Estate Planning for Families
Many young families put off estate planning because they are young and healthy, or because they don’t think they can afford it. But even a healthy, young adult can be taken suddenly by an accident or illness. And while none of us expects to die while our family is...
by John C. Martin | Dec 12, 2012 | Asset Protection, Beneficiaries, Estate Plan Maintenance, Estate Planning for Families, Gift Tax Exemption, Life Insurance, Living Will, Long-Term Care, Tax Planning, Trusts, Wills
The end of the year will be here before we know it. But there is still time to meet some major estate planning goals. Here are ten things to do before the end of 2012. 1. Have your estate planning done. Set the end of the year as your deadline to finally get...
by John C. Martin | Sep 3, 2012 | Estate Planning for Families
Most parents want to treat their children fairly in their estate planning, and many assume that means having their children inherit equally. But fair does not necessarily mean equal. There may be special circumstances to consider. For example, parents may want...