The decision specifically affects an estate-planning tool called an intentionally defective irrevocable trust (IDIT). This trust allows an individual to exclude trust assets from his or her estate for estate tax purposes. The creator of this type of trust (grantor)...
Three Colorado sisters became co-trustees of a family trust when their mother received a diagnosis of dementia. They also had an equal vote when making decisions about her care. Disagreements about the sale of a home resulted in a legal battle. They could also not...
Do you have a loved one who suffers from a significant disability? If you have a child with severe autism or a brother or sister with down syndrome, a special or supplemental needs trust can pay for additional expenses that Medicaid may not cover.Most people initially...
The CNBC survey found that more than a third (38 percent to be exact) of families with significant assets did not have an estate plan in place. Why is this? In part, it is because even successful and business savvy individuals can conflate estate planning with tax...
This month, the Supreme Court will issue a landmark decision on the legality of same-sex marriage. Surprisingly, a Boulder city clerk issued the first same-sex marriage in 1975. A PBS documentary called “Limited Partnership” recounts the couple’s story and a strange...
An irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) can both hold a life insurance policy and take the place of an outright distribution to beneficiaries. A major advantage of this type of trust is it allows you discretion to provide for special needs that might relate to the...
It seems unimaginable in your 30s or 40s. You may be so busy working long hours and raising young children, that the possibility of losing your spouse or partner never even crosses your mind. A tragic reminder came at the beginning of this month. Sheryl Sandberg, the...
A recent New York Times article sums it up nicely – one of the first skills to go is the ability to handle financial matters. With age comes a greater risk of making costly mistakes or falling for financially abusive schemes. Recent census data indicates that about 45...
As difficult as it is to imagine, there might come a time in your life where you are unable to make important decisions on your own. This might be because of a sudden traumatic accident, or because of a slowly progressing condition like Alzheimer’s or dementia....
All parents want what is best for their children, and estate plans are often created with this goal in mind. For parents of disabled children, this need is especially pressing – most will want to ensure that their child’s quality of life will not be compromised after...
