Video: What happens if a person dies without a will in place?
What happens to a person’s estate if he or she dies without having a will in place? We share the answer, in our latest video. #estateplanning […]
Author: Sarah Siedentopf
Estate Tax Exemptions Under The New Tax Act
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), a sweeping overhaul of the U.S. tax code, took effect at the beginning of 2018. The Act can potentially impact an individual’s estate planning, especially when it comes to leaving money to heirs and beneficiaries.While the federal estate tax, gift tax, and generation-skipping tax rate remains 40%, the amount exempt under the TCJA is now $10M for individuals and $20M for couples. Also, it is likely that these estate tax exemptions will increase with inflat […]
Video: Do I Need to File My Last Will and Testament Anywhere?
Once you have finalized your Last Will and Testament, do you need to file it anywhere? Check out the answer, in Siedentopf Law’s latest video: […]
Charitable Bequests Under The New Tax Act
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, a sweeping overhaul of the U.S. tax code, took effect at the beginning of 2018. The Act can potentially impact the manner in which individuals and families donate funds to their favorite charitable organizations.The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act did not eliminate charitable giving bequests (as it did with other tax exemptions), but it did change the rules of this tax and estate planning tool. Under the new guidelines, the standard tax deduction has increased from $6,350 […]
Estate Planning Tips for the New Year
t’s the New Year! Time to make personal resolutions and set goals for 2018. As you work through and prioritize your To Do list, Siedentopf Law has advice on some of the estate planning items you can tackle this year.Reviewing Your Will, Trust, Power of Attorney, and Advance Directive for Health Care: An estate plan is a collection of living documents – your will and/or trust, power of attorney, and medical advance directives. As changes happen within your family or business st […]
No Contest Clauses: Understanding the Pros and Cons
For the purposes of estate planning, a No Contest Clause is included in a will or a trust to discourage heirs and beneficiaries from potentially challenging the documents after a person’s death. Typically, the clause contains language that the whoever challenges or attempts to invalidate the will or trust will be completely disinherited. In some situations, a No Contest Clause can be a powerful deterrent. But the application of this provision can be somewhat limited.If a person cont […]
Video: Georgia’s Advance Directive for Health Care
The year may be wrapping up, but there’s still plenty of time to work on your Estate Planning To Do List! In our latest video, attorney Sarah Siedentopf discusses Georgia’s Advance Directive for Health Care, a form you can fill out on your own. For even more information, visit: https://estatelawatlanta.com/legal-blog/navigating-the-georgia-advance-directive-for-health-care-part-1. […]
How to Discuss Estate Planning Over the Holidays
If you have been trying to find the right time and place to talk to your parents about their estate plans, you may want to consider bringing the topic up during the holidays. With Thanksgiving next week and the holiday season almost in full swing, now is the perfect time to start planning for such important discussions.The holiday season provides a great opportunity to discuss estate planning because families are gathered in person, in one place, and they are not as distracted by work or […]
Why Should I Hire An Estate Planning Attorney?
There are several options for do-it-yourself estate planning on the Internet, in books, and other resources. While the documents can be drawn up and executed without an attorney, the risks associated with these DIY forms might outweigh the benefits. When it comes to estate planning, there are a number of reasons why it is better to hire an attorney than trying to tackle the legal work yourself.Nuances and Complexities: The more complicated your assets and family structure are, the more it […]
