Estate Planning

Elder law and estate planning serve two different -- but equally vital -- functions. Elder law mainly focuses on preserving assets during your lifetime, while estate planning looks at what happens to assets after death.

Everyone should have a durable power of attorney in place that appoints someone to act for them if they become unable to do so. However, in some circumstances, this legal document may not be enough. In these cases, setting up...

With the fate of the estate tax exemption uncertain, you may want to use the current large exemption to transfer assets to a trust to benefit your spouse. A spousal lifetime access trust (SLAT) can help transfer assets outside of...

What happens if you become incapacitated and are unable to voice your opinion on your health care? If you don’t have a health care proxy or guardian in place, state law chooses who can make those decisions.

Limited Liability Companies are an important tool for small business owners, but they can also be useful in estate planning. An LLC can help you pass assets to your children while avoiding gift and estate taxes. ...

If you have close relatives who are citizens of another country, you might receive a gift or inheritance from them at some point. While you usually do not have to pay taxes to the IRS for this, you may need...

In the event you lose your house in a natural disaster or emergency, it’s crucial that your estate planning and other important documents remain undamaged and easily retrievable. Learn how to keep them safe.

When interest rates are low, intrafamily loans can be a good way to help children purchase a house or a family business, and in certain circumstances, they can be used to gift money to the next generation.

Each season brings new holidays and family events, and you may have spent some time at your family’s shared vacation home. You probably want to ensure your children and grandchildren continue to enjoy it.