Estate Planning Blog

LISTEN UP: THESE STATES WILL USHER IN CHANGES TO THEIR DEATH TAXES IN 2025

Gabriel Katzner - January 25, 2016 - Estate Planning

Listen Up:  These States Will Usher in Changes to Their Death Taxes in 2025 In 2024, there are still 20 U.S. jurisdictions that collect a death tax at the state level:  Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, […]

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Warning: Don’t Let Creditors Inherit From You

Gabriel Katzner - January 21, 2016 - Estate Planning

(This is part 3 in a 3-part series). Shocking to most people, the retirement account you leave for your spouse can be seized in a divorce, lawsuit, or bankruptcy. 3 Options Available To Surviving Spouses When your surviving spouse inherits your IRA, he or she generally has three options: Cash out the inherited IRA and […]

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5 Reasons to Protect Your Retirement Accounts Now

Gabriel Katzner - January 20, 2016 - Estate Planning

(This is part 2 in a 3-part series). During your lifetime, your retirement account has asset protection, but as soon as you pass that account to a loved one, that protection evaporates. This means one lawsuit and POOF! Your life long, hard earned savings could be gone. Fortunately, there is an answer.  A special trust called […]

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Caution: Creditors Now Have Easy Access to Inherited IRAs

Gabriel Katzner - January 19, 2016 - Asset Protection

(This is part 1 in a 3-part series). Do you have IRAs or other retirement accounts that you plan to leave to your loved ones?  If so, proceed with caution.  Most people don’t know the law has changed: in Clark v. Rameker, the United States Supreme Court effectively ruled that inherited retirement accounts no longer […]

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DORIS DUKE’S TRUSTEE BILKED ESTATE FOR $1M: HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOURS?

Gabriel Katzner - - Estate Planning

Choosing a trustee is a very personal matter and should never be left to chance. Doris Duke, heiress of Duke’s energy and tobacco fortunes, didn’t seem to know her trustee very well at all.  After Duke passed in 1992, her trustee bilked the estate for over $1 million. It begs the question:  How well do […]

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Marlon Brando’s Housekeeper Claimed He Promised She Would Inherit His Home

Gabriel Katzner - - Estate Planning

Legendary Oscar-winning actor Marlon Brando left the bulk of his estate (worth approximately $26 million) to his producer, other associates, and his longtime housekeeper, Angela Borlaza. Brando created a valid last will and testament.  However, he did not include Borlaza – who later sued alleging that Brando promised that she would inherit his home when […]

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MAKE THIS THE YEAR YOU NAME LEGAL GUARDIANS FOR YOUR CHILDREN

Gabriel Katzner - January 18, 2016 - Estate Planning

I’m an estate planning attorney who is passionate about what he does. But I’m also the first to admit there’s a certain morbid undertone to the work I do. After all, I am helping people plan for their incapacity and death.  However, when you’re a parent to a minor child it’s your responsibility to plan […]

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FINANCIAL SMARTS PEAK AT 50, HERE’S HOW TO PROTECT YOUR OLDER SELF

Gabriel Katzner - January 14, 2016 - Estate Planning

A recent study conducted by Texas Tech University concluded that the ability to make smart financial decisions peaks at age 50.  This decline was observed in both men and women, making both sexes equally vulnerable to financial fraud as they age. 4 Tips for Protecting Your Finances From Scams, Shams, and Schemes as You Age […]

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HOW TO MAKE YOUR INHERITANCE LAST

Gabriel Katzner - January 13, 2016 - Estate Planning

A 2012 study by Ohio State researcher Jay Zagorsky found that about one-third of Americans who receive an inheritance have negative savings within two years of getting their money, and of those who receive $100,000 or more, nearly one in five spends, donates, or simply loses it all.  If you are about to receive an […]

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WILLS VS. TRUSTS. TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR WEALTH DISTRIBUTION!

Gabriel Katzner - January 12, 2016 - Wills

You work hard for your money and want to ensure that your wealth distribution goes according to your wishes upon death. Sadly, many people simply don’t understand the difference between wills and trusts and how they can affect inheritance. Don’t be one of them!  Take control of your wealth distribution by understanding what wills don’t […]

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