Approximately 44.2 million Americans are paying off student loan debt and it is hanging around longer than ever. Whether it will survive you will depend on the type of student loan. Did you cosign on student loans for a child or grandchild, return to earn another...
Estate Administration & Probate
Undue influence and pay-on-death designations
A caregiver or child who lives closest to an elderly parent may exert influence in an effort to get a larger inheritance. It's a problem when pressure - whether overpersuasion, coercion or manipulation - leads to a change in the terms of a will that favors the...
Ancillary probate for personal representatives from other states
We regularly represent and advise people who have been appointed by the court to be personal representatives responsible for the administration of estates of people who have died. One scenario in this context arises when someone who is not domiciled here in Colorado...
Portability & Estate Tax: What it is and why it’s important?
Colorado does not levy a state tax on your estate and the federal estate tax exemption is currently $5.49 million per individual in 2017, so why consider filing an estate tax return? Portability. This provision in the tax code allows for the transfer of any unused...
Colorado ranks 2nd as retirement destination
Mild winters and year-round accessibility to parts and trails throughout the Rocky Mountains are some of the reasons listed by CNN in its ranking of best states to retire. In addition, Bankrate finds that Colorado residents are some of the happiest with great access...
Decisions regarding inherited property
Colorado has made the top 10 list for growth over the last couple years and its population now tops 5.5 million. Modest homes in Cherry Creek and other desirable Denver neighborhoods have appreciated greatly as more people continue to move into the area.If your...
Transparency in estate planning can avoid probate conflicts
Statistics out of the Census Bureau indicate that about 800,000 Americans will lose their spouses this year. Widows and widowers make up 25 percent of the over-65 population totaling more than 14 million.What happens to an estate after death? Most people have little...
A tax benefit of Colorado transfer-on-death deeds
For many couples in retirement, their main asset is their home. Frequently the property is jointly owned and the property smoothly transfers to a wife at the death of her husband or vice versa.But what is the best way to transfer the property to the next generation?...
Part II: What your estate plan can do for you
In our last post, we discussed some of the important things that an estate plan can do for you, and why you really need one. This time, we’ll touch on five more reasons why an estate plan is vital for everyone. As a quick recap, our last post dealt with...
Do you ever wonder why you need estate planning?
Sadly, estate planning is one of those things that even people with good intentions may put off until “tomorrow,” only to never have the opportunity to revisit it before tragedy strikes. Without estate planning, you could lose out on the priceless opportunity to...
