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People who are familiar with the costs associated with nursing home care are acutely aware that care is getting more and more expensive every year. Fortunately, a portion of the cost of nursing home care, like other medical expenses, can be deducted as an itemized expense on federal tax returns. Medical expenses, including some longterm [...]
Continue reading...Trusts are often thought of in association with large estates, especially those of celebrities whose lives and finances are constantly under public scrutiny. You should know, however, that trusts can be used by anyone interested in estate planningand anyone committed to ensuring the best possible outcome for his or her family and beneficiaries.
A trust is [...]
The federal gift tax exemption is currently $1 million — meaning you can gift up to $1 million cumulatively over the course of your lifetime without incurring any gift tax. There is not marriage penalty; married couples can give up to $1 million per spouse.
A gift made under $13,000 in 2009 will not count against [...]
New York is one of the only three states that allow for the option of spousal refusal. Spousal refusal is an asset protection tool used wherein a spouse living the the community refuses turn over his or her assets or income to an ailing or incapacitated spouse for the purpose of seeking nursing home Medicaid [...]
Continue reading...A Revocable Living Trust is an important estate planning tool that allows individuals to transfer assets into a trust during their lifetime. These assets are then transferred directly to beneficiaries without going through probate, the court supervised distribution of assets according to the terms of your Will.
Understandably, the Revocable Living Trust is an attractive option. [...]
A trusts can be used for asset protection, but it must be the right type of trust. A living trust may not shield your assets because it is revocable. That is, you can change the terms at any time. Courts have held that since you have access to your revocable trust, creditors should be able [...]
Continue reading...Asset protection is the process by which both business and personal assets are organized so that they are protected from future creditors. This both shields your assets and discourages creditors from pursuing judgments against you.
Asset protection, while valuable to everyone, is most necessary for certain types of individuals.
These include:
• Business owners;
• People who are facing [...]
If you own a business, whether you are a sole proprietor or own jointly with partners, it is important that you take into consideration how you want your business and its assets to be handled when you are no longer able to contribute to its maintenance and growth.
You may want your business to be liquidated [...]
Estate planning should take into account all possible scenarios; one of which is the unlikely and unfortunate event that you should leave behind children under the age of 18. If this were to happen, you would want to make sure that the property they inherit is protected.
An adult should be named to manage any money [...]
While a Will is an essential part of any estate plan, there are some additional ways in which you may supplement your will by transferring assets directly to your beneficiaries. Assets that are eligible to be transferred directly include:
• Life insurance proceeds.
• Retirement plans, including 401(k) plans and IRAs.
• Trustee accounts such as those created [...]
