Resources & education 

Are you wondering whether you should update your estate plan documents? This memo offers seven reasons why updating your estate plan may be necessary and/or beneficial.

Step-Up in Basis is an important tax concept that can have a significant impact on assets and taxes payable. This memo provides important information on how and when a step-up in cost basis is applied.

Few couples realize that when they leave everything outright to the surviving spouse the surviving partner can change the ultimate beneficiaries, and may intentionally or unintentionally disinherit the couple’s children. Learn why The Contract-to-Will is frequently a superior planning approach over living trust planning, particularly for blended families. 

If you have not done so, we highly suggest making an inventory of your current assets to ensure you are aware of how title/ownership and any beneficiary designations are structured. Use this fillable form for help.

This memorandum provides insights and education about planning your estate with a Revocable Living Trust.

In order to realize the benefits of a revocable living trust, the trust must be funded by retitling assets into the name of the trust or designated as the named beneficiary of an asset. This memo provides information on how to properly fund a revocable living trust

An informational memo on gifting assets and the tax and estate planning consequences of doing so.

Although there are many DIY solutiuons available for estate planning today, this paper explains the potential pitfalls and drawbacks of using services such as Legal Zoom and the importance of professional estate planning advice.

Married couples with a living trust that have updated their estate plan in the last 10 years should consult this memo, which explains the outdated estate tax planning that was incorporated into estate plans prior to the most recent increase in the estate tax exemption.

Similar to our “12 Steps for Settling a Loved One’s Estate”, this document enumerates the considerations and tasks that should be addressed when someone passes away in significant detail.

Portability is an estate tax concept that allows a surviving spouse to claim a deceased spouse’s unused estate tax exemption. 

Use this informational memo to learn about helpful steps that can be taken prior to a loved one passing away that can help make the administration of their trust/estate easier when the time comes. 

Learn how an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust can ensure the proceeds from a life insurance policy pass to the appropriate beneficiaries for their intended use and free of estate taxes.