75% of Estate Plans Are Not Current

Studies show that approximately 75% of us do not have a current Estate Plan.  They don’t match the desire of the individual to take care of themselves in the event of their mental disability or take care of their loved ones after they become mental disabled or after they pass on.  If you don’t have... [Read More]

Regardless of the Election

Regardless of the outcome the federal and state elections, Probate Court Costs in North Carolina can be up to $6,000.00 per person or $12,000.00 per couple.  Administrative costs, much of that including attorney’s fees, will still average 5% to 7% of your assets that move through Probate Court.  The average time to move through Probate... [Read More]

What About the Election?

The outcome of the Presidential Election is unlikely to resolve the Tax Code in 2013.  As most people know, the Bush Tax Cuts of 2001 are set to expire on January 1, 2013.  It has been long anticipated that there would be a one year extension of those tax cuts.  The Republicans in the House... [Read More]

You Have to Know the Truth

If you do not know and understand the truth about how different estate planning vehicles work and are administered, you cannot make good, informed decisions on what you want.  If you do not understand that certain estate planning vehicles push your assets through Probate Court, the result will not be what you or your loved... [Read More]

Rumor Has It…One Year Extension on Bush Tax Cuts

The most current reliable rumor on backside negotiations between the Republicans and Democrats that effect Estate Taxes and other tax issues is that there will be a one year extension (or “patch”) on the Bush Tax Cuts.  As you know, the Bush Tax Cuts that went into effect in May 2001 are set to expire... [Read More]

A Will Cannot Plan for Mental Disability

A Will is only effective when you die, not before.  It only moves assets that are titled in your name through the Probate Court.  If there is real estate in different counties and different states, you may have multiple Probates to move those pieces of land.  The Will cannot plan for Mental Disability care.  We... [Read More]

Why Whitney Houston Shouldn’t Have Used a Will

Unfortunately, Whitney Houston used a Will based Estate Plan.  Her “Last Will and Testament,” or Will, was admitted into Probate Court in Atlanta, Georgia.  As guessed, Whitney’s 19 year old daughter is her sole beneficiary of the Will with payouts to her at ages 21, 25, and 30.  Meanwhile, the Trustee would make payments on... [Read More]

Whitney Houston – Estate Planning Part 2

As we discussed last time, when a well known celebrity dies, after asking “How?”, we ask, “How much did they leave and to whom?”  Rumors are that Whitney Houston left a multimillion dollar estate to her only child, an 18 year old daughter.  This is an estate that should continue to grow with the sale... [Read More]