The following is a summary of popular topics discussed in estate planning blogs and articles last month. Federal Estate and Gift Tax Updates The IRS announced that for 2012, the federal estate tax exclusion will increase to $5,120,000 (it was $5 million in 2011). As Julie Garber of about.com notes, this means that the lifetime…
This past April top estate planning blogger David A. Shulman, Esq. opined that “[t]he #1 Estate Planning blog is and continues to be Texas Tech Univ. School of Law Professor Gerry Beyer’s ‘Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog.’ It is, and continues to be, essential reading for anyone in the profession.” Read more...
Now that all the earthquakes, hurricanes, and back-to-school preparations appear to be out of the way, we can get back to some good ol’ estate planning reading! Much of last week’s best works seem to have come from traditional media resources. Take a look: Top Posts and Articles of the Week Post of the Week…
One thing I enjoy about most of the top estate planning blogs is that they go to the trouble of citing others’ fine work. In this week’s top 10 posts and articles, you will find several examples of this praiseworthy practice. Top Posts and Articles of the Week Post of the Week Be Mindful of…
There were many excellent blog posts last week. Some of the topics you see linked and discussed below may contain some unfamiliar topics, but all provide excellent introductions to the given subject. Top Posts and Articles of the Week Post of the Week To Stretch and Protect: The Goal of a Retirement Trust, David E.…
Top Posts and Articles of the Week Post of the Week James Brown Estate Mess Compromises His Final Wishes, Danielle Mayoras, Esq. & Andrew Mayoras, Esq., The Probate Lawyer Blog: Famous Fortune Fights! Read more... Even though James Brown left his $100 million estate to a special trust for needy children, his estate is still…
It is perhaps not very well known that the ethics rules for lawyers cover behavior not only during but also outside of working hours. According to the Preamble of the Virginia Rules of Professional Conduct: [1] A lawyer is a representative of clients or a neutral third party, an officer of the legal system and…
As stated here, the reason this blog showcases the excellent posts and articles about estate planning is an attempt to make the topic more accessible and less intimidating. However, it has been suggested that I am linking to far too many sources each week, and that this fact actually works against the original goal. Read…
The possibility of the U.S. government defaulting on its obligations dominated the news last week. Two links below, including the Post of the Week, discusses the future effects of the raised debt ceiling that is now signed law. Top Posts and Articles of the Week Post of the Week Making a Deal in Washington (Capital…
One of my favorite passages in literature comes from Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions, Meditation XVII, by poet John Donne, written in 1624: Read more...
