Estate Planning

 

Estate Planning
	Articles
		Assets
Asset protection in estate planning Estate planning and 529 plans Transferring your family business
		Beneficiary designations
Choosing a beneficiary for your IRA or 401(k) Designating a beneficiary for life insurance
		Charitable giving
Charitable giving Life insurance and charitable giving
		Estate planning basics
Estate planning–an introduction Facing the possibility of incapacity Gift and estate taxes Trust basics Wills–the cornerstone of your estate plan
		Life insurance
Life insurance and estate planning Life insurance and terminal illness Life insurance: do you need it? Planning ahead for life insurance proceeds The ins and outs of policy ownership
		Medicaid planning
Medicaid and nursing home care Medicaid and the principal residence Medicaid planning basics
		Probate
Bypassing probate Understanding probate
	Decision Tools
		Business planning
Business life insurance needs Business succession planning alternatives Choosing a business entity How cross purchase plans work How entity purchase plans work Number of policies needed with a cross purchase plan Planning for succession of a business interest
		Charitable giving
How a charitable lead trust works How a charitable remainder trust works The best property to give to charity
		Estate planning basics
529 Plan Federal estate tax calculator 529 Plan Federal estate tax calculator – (Consumer Version) Common incapacity documents Estate shrinkage Federal estate tax estimator Federal transfer tax exemption amounts under the Tax Act of 2001 Steps to estate planning success Table of federal estate tax brackets and exemption limits
		Life insurance
Life insurance needs analyzer
		Probate
The probate process: 3 to 9 months after death The probate process: 9 to 12 months after death The probate process: initial tasks Types of post-mortem elections
		Trusts
Advantages of trusts How a grantor retained income trust (GRIT) works How an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) works How an irrevocable trust protects assets
	FAQs
		Estate and gift tax
How can I determine what my business is worth for estate and gift tax purposes? How can I minimize taxes on my estate? How will estate taxes be paid if I leave no provision in my will? I intend to make tuition payments directly to my grandchild’s college, and I know this will reduce my estate. But would it be better to contribute to a 529 plan instead? I just made a gift. Do I have to file a gift tax return? If I am the account owner when I die, will the value of my 529 account be included in my estate? The death benefit from insurance on my life will be paid to an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT). What if those funds are needed to pay my estate taxes? What is a family limited partnership, and will it help reduce estate taxes? What is the applicable exclusion amount? Will the value of my 529 account be included in my estate or my beneficiary’s estate?
		Estate planning basics
How often do I need to review my estate plan? Isn’t estate planning only for the rich? What makes up my taxable estate?
		Life insurance and estate planning
Are life insurance proceeds income taxable? The death benefit from insurance on my life will be paid to an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT). What if those funds are needed to pay my estate taxes? What is a life insurance trust and why should I consider establishing one? When I die, is my beneficiary required to take a lump-sum payment of my life insurance death benefit? Will my beneficiaries have to pay taxes on the proceeds of my life insurance policy?
		Planning for incapacity
What is an advanced directive for health care, and will it help me avoid court involvement during incapacity? What is the difference between a power of attorney and a durable power of attorney?
		Probate
Does property owned jointly avoid probate? What is probate and why do I want to avoid it?
		Trusts
Can an UGMA/UTMA account reduce my child’s financial aid for college? Should I establish a trust for my child’s college education fund? What is a Crummey power? What is a life insurance trust and why should I consider establishing one? What is a living trust?
		Wills
Can I disinherit relatives I don’t like? Can I transfer my business through my will? Do I have to accept a bequest I don’t want? Do I need an attorney to prepare my will? How will estate taxes be paid if I leave no provision in my will? I want my son to have my valuable collection of baseball cards when I die. How do I make sure he gets it? What is the difference between a living will and a living trust? What will happen if I die without a will? Who should I name as guardian of my children in case my spouse and I should die at the same time? Who should I name as trustee?