In case you haven’t heard, the New Year brought a new law recently signed by the President. To avoid the country from falling off the “fiscal cliff,” the “American Taxpayer Relief Act” was approved on New Year’s Day. The approval and signing of this new law may affect the future of your estate plan and your estate taxes. Regarding federal estate taxes, this new law makes almost all of the previous tax provisions, commonly known as ”TRA 2010,” permanent, with the exception of the tax rate. … [Read more...] about We Dodged the Fiscal Cliff – How the New Tax Bill Affects You

There are only a few days left before the clock strikes midnight on December 31st and the tax law changes. Or will it? As of this writing, the law to which it will change will be the pre-EGTRRA/TRA law. In other words, currently in 2012, individuals with estates under $5.12 million are not subject to federal gift or estate tax. However, if this law expires, estates larger than $1 million will become taxable at the beginning of 2013 and we will back to a $1 million applicable exclusion per … [Read more...] about The Estate Tax Ball is About to Drop!

The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys was recommended in the January 2009 Consumer Reports Money Adviser newsletter. The article “How to Avoid Inheritance Feuds” focuses on techniques for avoiding conflict after a loved one passes away. The article recommends using the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys as a source for selecting a qualified estate planning attorney. The article also warned consumers to be explicit in their will in order to avoid disagreements. Other advice … [Read more...] about Consumer Reports Recommends American Academy

Our mission is to arm consumers and professional advisors in our community with the information needed to make informed decisions about their family's and client’s future. With that purpose, we are pleased to announce the rollout of our new and improved Estate Planning website! The website was created to serve as a resource center for families when planning their estate strategies. Visitors will find useful information regarding probate, business planning, asset protection, incapacity planning, … [Read more...] about Our New Website is Live!

In 2001, Congress passed a law that made big changes to the estate tax. It raised the amount that could pass without tax, increasing it in steps from $675,000 in 2001, to $3.5 million in 2009. Then, in 2010, the estate tax was repealed for one year only-2010. The same law also said that the estate tax would return in 2011, with estates over $1 million being taxed as high as 55%. However, on December 17, 2010, Congress revised the estate tax with yet another new law: the Tax Relief, Unemployment … [Read more...] about How the New Estate Tax Exclusion Affects Your Estate Plan

Carolyn Bigdas article "Rethink Your Legacy" in the June issue of Money Magazine explores the five questions you should be asking regarding your estate. The article recommends the American Academys website, www.aaepa.com, as a source to find a qualified estate planning attorney. The Associate Director of Education at the Academy, Steve Hartnett, was also interviewed in the article and lent his expertise to one of the five questions. This is the fifth mention of finding a quality attorney on the … [Read more...] about American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys Recognized by Money Magazine Again

In the January 2009 issue of Money Magazine, Walecia Konrad’s article entitled “Keep It In The Family” focuses on making sure the wealth you’ve worked so hard to accumulate will go to the people you love. The article recommends the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys as a source to find an estate planning attorney who can tailor a plan for your situation and address your state laws. It also includes a useful estate planning checklist and valuable tips for putting together a proper … [Read more...] about Money Magazine Recognizes American Academy!

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Traditional “bare bones” estate planning has focused primarily on what happens after death and usually passes on financial wealth outright with no conditions or safeguards. Today’s American families are realizing that these outdated, traditional estate planning methods are failing them and their families, and they are wanting a more holistic approach to deal with today’s real life issues. Those issues include divorce (especially their children's divorces), second marriages … [Read more...] about Frank & Kraft Offers a Revolutionary NEW Estate Planning Method

Robert Armstrong, President of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, was interviewed by Money Magazine senior writer Penelope Wang for her article A Midlife Money Checkup in the March 2008 Issue. The article was part of the Cover Story "A Boomer's Guide to Financial Freedom" that included multiple articles focusing on financial trends, aging well and other issues Baby Boomers are facing today. This is the third mention of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys by Money … [Read more...] about American Academy Mentioned Again in Money Magazine!

The John Tesh Radio Show recommended the American Academy as a resource for finding an estate planning attorney. The segment focusing on money and finance originally aired in September 2007 and was repeated in December 2007. Mr. Tesh recommended that listeners go to the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorney’s website to find a qualified estate planning attorney in their area. The Academy website is also recommended on his site. The John Tesh Radio Show airs on 260 stations across the … [Read more...] about American Academy Recommended by Nationally Syndicated Talk Show Host