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My Spouse Died . . . and Now I Have My Own Survivor's Trust?
January 31st, 2024
Many married couples share almost everything, including finances. This may be reflected in their estate plan by using one joint living trust instead of two separate trusts. Separate trusts can provide greater flexibility, but a joint trust can be str…
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Celebrating International LEGO Day Jan 28
January 28th, 2024
Mark your calendars: January 28 is International LEGO day, which celebrates the date when the patent for the globally famous plastic brick system was filed. Since the 1940s, people have been creating their own worlds, brick by brick, with LEGOs. With…
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Categories: Estate Planning, General News, Miscellaneous, News, Planning for Minor Children, Trusts, Wills
What Is the Last Surviving Spouse Rule in an Estate Tax Situation?
January 24th, 2024
Estate planning can be a significant part of successful financial management, especially for married couples. One key consideration is minimizing any estate tax, which can substantially affect the distribution of money and property to a married coupl…
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The Testamentary Trust: The Best of Both Worlds
January 17th, 2024
You have several different options when it comes to creating the right estate plan. Some people believe that a revocable living trust is the best way to go, while others think that a last will and testament (commonly known as a will) is best under ce…
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Nine Common Errors That Make Online DIY Estate Planning Documents Unenforceable
January 10th, 2024
Any time a new year begins, many people set a goal to finally get around to creating an estate plan. And too many try to do it themselves with online DIY estate planning documents. While sometimes that can work out okay, too often it causes more head…
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Categories: Estate Planning
Can Artificial Intelligence Programs Write Basic Estate Planning Documents?
January 3rd, 2024
It’s a new year, and perhaps your goal is to get your estate planning in order. With the increased coverage of artificial intelligence (AI) and all of the applications it can have in our everyday lives, some people may wonder whether an AI prog…
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Categories: Estate Planning
Sharing Your Estate Planning Details With Loved Ones: Should You?
December 20th, 2023
When you decide to create a comprehensive estate plan, there are many things to consider. One is whether to tell your loved ones about your plan and how much information to share with them. Estate planning can be a complex and sensitive matter, so yo…
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Categories: Estate Planning
Will the Corporate Transparency Act Apply to You?
November 29th, 2023
Starting on January 1, 2024, under a new law called the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), owners of certain business entities must file a report with the federal government including details regarding the ownership of their entity. The CTA was enacte…
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Estate Plan Lessons from DeMuth v. Commissioner: Lifetime Gifts and Taxes
November 22nd, 2023
Lifetime gifts are a popular way to reduce estate and inheritance taxes. Currently, only estates worth $12.92 million or more are subject to the federal estate tax. Twelve states and the District of Columbia levy an additional estate or inheritance t…
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Categories: Estate Planning
What Do I Do If I Want to Undo My Revoked Will?
November 8th, 2023
When life circumstances change, you may alter the decisions you have made in your estate planning documents. You might choose to revoke your will at some point. But what if you have a change of heart and want to reinstate it? There are different ways…
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Attorney Jana McCreary
Houston Estate Planning Attorney Jana R. McCreary has been an attorney for over twenty years, a career move she made after working for over a decade with adults and children with intellectual disabilities and mental illness. Graduating summa cum laud… Read More