Blog Posts: Estate Planning

As higher education costs continue to escalate, parents or grandparents may look to different savings vehicles for their children's college fund.  The IRS, under section 529, provides parents with the opportunity for a higher education savings plan. There are two sets of tax rules for 529 plans (the "Plan").  One relates to the income taxation of the owne...

You may think you don't need a will because you don't have many assets. However, if you don't have a will, the state could determine who gets your property and even who will take care of your children should both you and your spouse die at the same time. Many changes and events occur during your lifetime and if you have experienced any of the following life events ...

The new estate laws are challenging to comply with and will require most high net worth individuals to review their existing plan. One of the major issues is how the trust is divided on the death of the first spouse, and who makes certain elections. There are other critical decisions that need to be made to protect assets and minimize or delay estate taxes. Prior E...

In today's world, fewer marriages exist and more people are cohabitating in committed relationships for various reasons. Arizona's community property laws do not apply to the ownership of real property between unmarried individuals.  This limits the way in which title can be held, but also raises additional issues, such as what happens to the property upon th...

Transcript Many people confuse asset protection planning with estate planning.  The purpose of an estate plan is to distribute your assets after your death.  It does not protect your assets while you are alive.  Protection from creditors depends on how you hold your assets.   Never Combine Business & Personal Assets Business asse...