To understand the value of an irrevocable life insurance trust, you must first absorb some background information about the federal estate tax. The federal estate tax can be a factor if you pass away with an extremely valuable estate. In 2014, the estate tax credit or exclusion is $5.34 million. This is the amount that can be passed on free of the death tax. Anything that you are transferring that exceeds this amount is potentially subject to taxation. When you are determining the … [Read more...] about What Is an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust in Indianapolis?
Estate Planning
How Can I Include My Pet in My Estate Plan?
If you are concerned about predeceasing your pet, you are probably wondering how you can include your pet in your estate plan. There are a couple of different ways that you can set aside resources for the care of your pet when you are planning your estate. Direct Bequest to Caretaker You could ask someone to agree to take care of the pet after you pass away. If you create a last will to direct the transfer of your monetary assets, you could leave this person a direct bequest that is … [Read more...] about How Can I Include My Pet in My Estate Plan?
Free Report:What Can My Spouse Keep When I am Applying for Medicaid in Indiana?
The community spouse may retain ownership of a certain amount of property without impacting your eligibility for medicaid coverage. When you are planning ahead for the latter portion of your life, you should recognize the fact that Medicare will not pay for long-term care. Topics covered in this report include: Limitations of MedicareLong-Term Care CostsMedicaid PlanningThe Healthy or Community Spouse Click here to read the whole article or download the PDF. … [Read more...] about Free Report:What Can My Spouse Keep When I am Applying for Medicaid in Indiana?
What Is a QTIP Trust?
Each estate planning situation is unique, and there are various different solutions that can be implemented to match the circumstances in question. Trusts are often part of the equation. There is a type of trust called a QTIP trust that can be useful for those who are getting remarried after having children from a previous marriage. In this post we will provide some basic information about QTIP trusts. (The QTIP acronym stands for qualified terminable interest … [Read more...] about What Is a QTIP Trust?
Attend a Living Trust Seminar in June
The last will is the most commonly utilized estate planning document, and you may assume that you should use a last will to arrange for the transfer of your assets. In fact, you may want to consider a revocable living trust as an alternative. We are offering a series of seminars during the month of June that will cover revocable living trusts in detail. The seminars are being offered free of charge, and you will obtain a great deal of valuable information if you attend one of the … [Read more...] about Attend a Living Trust Seminar in June
What Legal Structures Provide Asset Protection for Business Owners?
We have often heard it said that we live in a litigious society. Any business owner could potentially be the subject of a lawsuit, but some people are more vulnerable than others. For example, physicians and landlords are often targeted by litigious types. All business owners should consider the value of asset protection, but it is absolutely essential for those who are in certain lines of work. Let's look at a couple of the legal structures that are typically used by … [Read more...] about What Legal Structures Provide Asset Protection for Business Owners?
What Are the Advantages of a Durable Financial Power of Attorney?
The process of estate planning should be looked at from a holistic perspective. The postmortem transfer of your monetary resources is at the root, but you should also consider the interim that will precede your passing. Incapacity is quite common among elders. A comprehensive plan for aging will address this contingency. Durable Financial Power of Attorney Who would handle your financial affairs if you were to become incapacitated? You can answer this question … [Read more...] about What Are the Advantages of a Durable Financial Power of Attorney?
Will My Heirs Be Forced to Pay an Inheritance Tax?
There are various different taxes that can be imposed on asset transfers. The federal government has its own tax code, and each state has the right to levy taxes as well. Exactly what you are exposed to is going to vary depending on a number of factors. These would include the state within which you live or own property, the relationship that you hold with the respective inheritors, and the amount of the asset transfers in question Estate Tax vs. Inheritance Tax You may … [Read more...] about Will My Heirs Be Forced to Pay an Inheritance Tax?
Why Should I Have a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care?
A comprehensive estate plan will go beyond the postmortem transfer of monetary assets. To be fully prepared, you should address the contingencies that you may face during the latter portion of your life. Incapacity is one of these eventualities. It is quite possible that you will become unable to make all of your own decisions late in your life due to incapacitation. You can account for this possibility through the execution of a legally binding device called a durable power … [Read more...] about Why Should I Have a Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care?
Is Probate Always Required?
Estate administration tasks are often conducted under the supervision of the probate court. However, there are certain circumstances under which the probate process will not be required. In the state of Indiana, small estates can sometimes avoid the full probate process through the execution of a simple affidavit, and there is also a simplified probate process. To be eligible for either of these shortcuts, the estate in question cannot be valued in excess of $50,000. If the … [Read more...] about Is Probate Always Required?
