Category: Estate Planning

When people rail against the “death tax” what they are typically talking about are estate taxes. But the close cousin of the estate tax, the inheritance tax, can cause just as much mayhem if not properly planned for. 

What’s the difference between estate taxes and inheritance taxes? 
The “death tax” that everyone knows about is the...

In his novel Sycamore Row John Grisham takes us back to Ford County, Mississippi where Jack Brigance, the lawyer made famous in A Time To Kill, has taken on another challenging case. 

A wealthy man name Seth Hubbard has hung himself in a sycamore...

If you have ever bought a piece of property or watched a tv show like Antiques Roadshow you are probably vaguely familiar with the concept of appraisals — a professional assessment of the market value of a piece of real estate or an item. But did you know that appraisals are an important part...

Someone recently wrote in to the MarketWatch advice column with an interesting question about parents who are willing and able to make gifts now versus waiting until they have passed away to pass on their wealth. It’s a good reminder of two critical aspects...

A recent article in the MarketWatch advice column caught our eye because it is a scenario we have seen played out far too many times. A blended family is at one another’s throats because one sibling took advantage of her step-father’s poor estate planning in order to benefit her own family. Family disputes...

Have you ever watched the hit period drama Downton Abbey? If so, you have certainly heard people talking about estates. One of the underlying themes that drives the story forward is the search for an heir to the Downton estate. Only a male can...

When we teach our kids about bullies, we tell them that bullies are actually weak. They pick on people because they want to feel better about themselves, so they target the lonely, the weak, and the disheartened.

It turns out we should be listening to our own advice. As our parents and grandparents become older,...

It’s been months since Hurricane Florence made landfall, but in many ways we are all still recovering from the storm. We have helped numerous clients find and replace lost paperwork, and helped...

It sneaks up on you like a thief in the night. It takes without hesitation, not caring what it destroys. It does not matter if you are young or old, rich or poor, urban or rural, it will get you if it can. Opioid addiction is ravishing our nation. 

It is something families can no...

In most relationships there is one spouse that handles the couple’s finances. It’s a natural division of labor because it is redundant to have both spouses sign every check to the utility company. But it puts the spouse who is not the financial...