Individuals often have reservations about seeking out an attorney’s help with their Estate Plan. Sometimes they worry about the cost, other times they think that they can do it on their own, and sometimes they die before the thought of creating an Estate Plan ever crosses their mind. Unfortunately, the issues that result from a lack of proper Estate Planning on death don’t care who we are during life, or how soulfully we can sing. As this blog demonstrates, even celebrities like Aretha Franklin … [Read more...] about R-E-S-P-E-C-T: Find Out What It Means To…Your Estate Plan
Legal Education
Gen X – This One’s for You (And Everyone Else Too)
The greatest transfer of wealth will occur over the next five to ten years as the Baby Boomer Generation retires and passes away. In fact, according to many sources, this transition will dwarf any prior wealth transfers between generations. This transfer gives Gen X, those anticipated to inherit the majority of this wealth, a great opportunity to open the lines of communication with their families to plan for the shift that has already started. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Gen X – This One’s for You (And Everyone Else Too)
The SECURE Act – The Gift That Keeps On Giving
The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019 (more commonly known as the SECURE Act) altered the landscape for IRAs significantly. In early 2022, just when advisors gained a comfort level with the SECURE Act, the U.S. Treasury Department issued Regulations requiring required minimum distributions ("RMDs") under the 10-year Rule in years 1-9. Then, after realizing that many individuals were unaware of the new requirements, the I.R.S. issued Notice 2022-53 suspending the … [Read more...] about The SECURE Act – The Gift That Keeps On Giving
What Bruce Willis Can Teach Us About Incapacity Planning
When Bruce Willis announced his retirement from acting due to his diagnosis of aphasia, it surprised not only Hollywood, but also people across the country. Just a few weeks ago, Bruce’s family indicated that the disease had progressed to frontotemporal dementia, which highlights the importance of incapacity planning. While estate planning typically focuses on planning for what happens after death, a comprehensive estate plan should include provisions regarding what happens during life should … [Read more...] about What Bruce Willis Can Teach Us About Incapacity Planning
The Lessons from Lisa Marie Presley
We often post articles regarding the latest celebrity whose death created a mess because their Estate Plan failed to properly protect the celebrity’s family and loved ones. It seems that an individual with fame and money could easily avoid that result; however, that’s not always the case. The fallout caused by inadequate Estate Plans of celebrities provides great lessons for Estate Planning practitioners and their clients because the drama unfolds on a public stage. Tragically, Lisa Marie … [Read more...] about The Lessons from Lisa Marie Presley
Refresh and Reset: Syncing up in San Diego
The best Estate Planners stay current on the latest trends. The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys held its semi-annual conference providing education on selected topics designed to inspire excellence in its Members, which includes the attorneys of The Mendel Law Firm, L.P. Read on to learn more about the unique experience at the Fall Summit 2022 Conference. Click to learn more. … [Read more...] about Refresh and Reset: Syncing up in San Diego
Death and Your Digital Footprint
As more and more individuals get comfortable in the digital world, estate planning has evolved to address the collection and transfer of digital assets. For example, the widespread use of a legacy contact and/or password managers allows owners of digital content to control what happens to the digital information after they die. Read on to learn more. … [Read more...] about Death and Your Digital Footprint
Planning for Special Needs Children
Planning is important when providing for any of your children. But planning is even more important for special needs children. Without proper planning, an inheritance can jeopardize a special needs child’s needs-based benefits, such as SSI or Medicaid. Read on to learn more about planning for special needs children. Planning for Special Needs Children … [Read more...] about Planning for Special Needs Children
New Tax Proposal re: Retirement Savings
There are new tax proposals working their way through the House and Senate. These proposals, if passed, would change retirement savings significantly. Read on to learn more about these proposals and whether they might impact you or your clients. New Tax Proposal re: Retirement Savings … [Read more...] about New Tax Proposal re: Retirement Savings
Staying Current on Estate Planning
It’s important for estate planning attorneys to stay up on the latest developments and techniques. The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorney held its semi-annual conference in Atlanta recently. Read on to learn more about the topics discussed at that cutting-edge conference. Staying Current on Estate Planning … [Read more...] about Staying Current on Estate Planning
