Portland Oregon Estate Planning News
If you’ve already met with an estate planning attorney to put together your wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and other long-term plans, then congratulations! You’ve taken a really important step toward being prepared for the future and making things easier on your family and friends should you pass away or become unable to make decisions for yourself.
Read MoreService dogs are specially trained to provide assistance to children with disabilities. They can be taught to support kids in a variety of unique ways that help with daily living and even help in an emergency situation. For families with disabled children, service dogs can be a lifeline.
Read MoreBusiness plans often address marketing, growth, and product development issues. However, business owners often fail to create an exit strategy, succession plan, or acquisition plan. But Succession isn’t just for obscenely wealthy kingpins of media with overly ambitious and conniving children.
Read MoreYou can donate retirement accounts, such as an IRA, by distributing the proceeds to charity. However, the tax benefits for donating this way are minimal. A tax-efficient donation strategy is to contribute your retirement fund directly to a charitable organization as part of your estate plan.
Read MoreFederal estate tax law includes a provision called portability. This provision only applies to married couples. It allows the surviving spouse to use any part of their deceased spouse’s unused estate and gift tax exemption. Including portability in an estate plan protects the surviving spouse from significant estate tax bills if the deceased spouse’s estate didn’t exceed exemption thresholds. With the deceased spouse’s unused exclusion (DSUE), the surviving spouse can transfer their spouse’s unused federal gift or estate tax exemption upon death.
Read MoreThe holiday season is joyous for many. However, it can be overwhelming if you care for an older adult. People in their senior years often feel isolated from the outside world if they can't participate in certain festivities. Maybe they used to be active and loved playing with their kids and grandkids but no longer have the energy or physical abilities.
Read MoreYour named beneficiaries will likely have to go through probate to receive your real property after your death if it is only in your name and not held in trust. Although transferring property into trust can ensure your family does not have to wait for a judge to validate your will before distributing your assets, it might not make sense for your situation. Another beneficial method is a transfer-on-death (TOD) deed. A TOD deed transfers a person’s real property to named beneficiaries upon the transferor’s death. It is similar to a transfer-on-death registration for an investment account or a payable-on-death designation for a bank account.
Read MoreThe holidays are a great time to catch up with loved ones, so why not make the most of it by having some important conversations? One topic that is often overlooked, yet critical to discuss is estate planning. Here are a few reasons you may want to sit down with your loved ones this year to talk about your wishes and answer any questions they may have so that everyone is on the same page if something happens to you.
Read MoreSome seniors don’t expect to remarry after a divorce or the death of a spouse. However, life is full of surprises. You could meet someone at any age, even during your retirement years. Many older adults bring various assets and debts into a new relationship. They might also have children from a previous marriage, one or multiple businesses, and collections they’ve worked hard to accumulate. Without adequate estate planning, you or your spouse could encounter significant problems if one of you dies or suffers a debilitating medical condition.
Read MoreWe have all heard horror stories about identity theft. Not only is it astonishingly easy for thieves to steal your identity, but it often comes with little recourse and can take years to repair your credit when it happens. Seniors are especially susceptible to identity theft because they are less likely to use tools that help to keep their identities secure. As people age, the danger becomes even greater, because a person may experience dementia or other cognitive impairments that go unchecked before things get to a serious enough point that someone steps in to manage that person’s affairs.
Read MoreWhen creating a trust with a Portland, Oregon trust lawyer, it is important to understand the specific roles involved. The grantor is the person who establishes a trust. The designated beneficiary is the person who receives the assets held in trust when the grantor dies. Probate is unnecessary because trust property passes outside the last will and testament or intestacy law.
Read MoreThey say celebrities are “just like the rest of us,” and that’s certainly true when it comes to estate planning. While no one likes to think about (or plan for) their incapacity or death, there are real-life consequences for not doing so. It doesn’t matter if you are a billionaire or just an average Joe, everyone needs a plan to protect their assets and their family if something happens to them.
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