Key Takeaways Asking the right questions when choosing a trust management service is crucial for making informed decisions and ensuring effective trust administration. Understanding a provider’s approach can go a long way toward demystifying processes and expectations. Proactively taking on trustee responsibilities, like legal and ethical obligations, will help avoid conflicts and create transparency [...]
Key Takeaways Trust administration in estate planning is essential because it streamlines asset distribution and helps protect your family’s financial future. It offers a clear plan for asset management and protection. By avoiding probate, trusts expedite asset transfers to beneficiaries, reducing administrative delays, legal costs, and stress during emotionally challenging times for your loved [...]
By now you have probably heard that on December 17, 2010, Congress increased the estate tax exemption to 5 million dollars. You may also have heard the new term “portability” thrown about; read that the estate, gift, and GST taxes have once again been “reunified” at the 5 million dollar level; and that this is [...]
If you’re looking for a way to protect your assets from creditors and lawsuits you should consider creating a Limited Liability Company (LLC). An LLC is a business entity that combines the benefits of a business partnership and a corporation and protects your assets while still allowing you to retain control over them. Desirable characteristics [...]
A typical Thursday night finds me meeting with other lawyers and discussing ideas useful in our respective practices. Although always trying to find new ideas to help clients, these meetings, reminiscent of old style writer’s salons, are particularly useful because of the opportunity to exchange views in an open setting. No idea is too simple [...]
If you are currently or soon may be serving as the trustee of an irrevocable trust you should be aware that the Arizona Trust Code (ATC), which became effective January 1, 2009, imposes certain new obligations on trustees of irrevocable trusts. Prior to January 1, 2009, ARS §14-7303 required the trustee to provide beneficiaries [...]