Compliments of Our Law Firm, Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys Let’s face it, even in the closest-knit families, money and assets can still create problems. For example, resentment can show up when one sibling has seen greater financial and career success than his siblings and trying to “balance” that in your estate plan can cause further friction in the future. So … [Read more...] about Fair Does Not Always Mean Equal: Avoiding Conflict in Inheritances

 Compliments of Sinclair Prosser Gasior, Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys You may have many fond childhood memories of lively family gatherings. And it was probably not unusual to hear older family members remark how happy they were when everyone gathered for those special meals and how proud they were to see their legacy living on in their loved ones. Think of … [Read more...] about The Role of Legacy Planning

 Compliments of Sinclair Prosser Gasior, Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys The memories made with grandchildren are some of the best. Still, it’s understandable to want to leave them with a bit more than great stories to someday pass down to their own grandchildren. Fortunately, there are many ways to accomplish this. The key is to ensure there’s no ambiguity in your … [Read more...] about The Ties that Bind: Grandparents and Grandchildren

Compliments of Sinclair Prosser Gasior, Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys When renowned fashion designer Oscar de la Renta died in late 2014, the assumption of many was his son, widow and her three children would receive similar – if not equal – inheritances. Instead, the designer’s son, Moises de la Renta received a very small inheritance (especially considering the … [Read more...] about The Risk of No Contest Clauses

Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys When it comes to estate planning, Ted and Emily thought they were ahead of the game. They went to their attorney for help with estate planning and created a Trust to protect their assets. They are in company with about only 21 percent of Americans who also have a Trust. After their lawyer prepared documents, they signed or … [Read more...] about Funding: What Should Ted and Emily Have Done

Planning for Adoption Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys In 2013, a Florida court set aside an adoption in a case called Goodman v. Goodman. There was no upset child or devastated parents in this case, because Mr. Goodman adopted his adult girlfriend. Mr. Goodman and his ex-wife had created an Irrevocable Trust for their shared children, but the couple subsequently … [Read more...] about Planning for Adoption

Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys As the year draws to an end and the New Year quickly approaches, now is the time to think about resolutions and look towards the future. One New Year’s resolution you should consider this year is to think very long term. Instead of just planning for how you can improve life in the upcoming year, the dawn of a new year is the … [Read more...] about Decisions, Decisions, Decisions

Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys The holiday season is not only a time to reflect on the past and consider your future, it’s also a time to cherish wonderful days with your loved ones. While spending time with children and family and thinking about how time has passed and kids have grown, many people will begin to think about the life they have created … [Read more...] about Importance of Legacy Planning

Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys People lend money to family members for a variety of reasons. For example, lending your son money to buy his first home, or lending your daughter money to start a new business. At some point, you may find yourself in a similar situation. Therefore, it is important to know how this will impact you from a tax standpoint. Are you … [Read more...] about Loaning Family Money – What You Need To Know

Compliments of Our Law Firm, Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys You might not realize it, but you already have an estate plan. Even if you’ve  never created a Will, never set foot inside an estate planning attorney’s office, and never given estate planning a second thought. Here’s why: each state provides every citizen with a default estate plan. This estate plan … [Read more...] about Estate Planning is Essential for Same-Sex Couples