Jarvis Law Office

Estate Planning e-Newsletter

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• May 2012
  • Majoring in Minors
    Most Parents expend considerable time and treasure to provide for their minor children. But not all parents live to see their children enter adulthood. Our first article reviews key considerations to provide for your children in a world without you.
  • Leveraging Legacies
    In our second article, we survey tax-savvy lifetime gifting strategies to leverage legacies to minor children, with some surprising control retained by the donor. [Hint: You might want to share this article with their grandparents!]
• April 2012
  • Adult Education
    By and large, Americans are a rather independent lot. Our first article reviews some fundamental threats to our personal independence in the context of young adult Americans. You will want to share this article with the young adults in your life.
  • Carrots & Sticks
    In our second article, we consider a Carrots & Sticks approach to inheritance planning. To protect your heirs from catching a bad case of Affluenza, you may want to learn how to protect a hard-earned inheritance both from them and for them before it is too late.
• March 2012
  • Facing Facts
    It can be difficult to ponder our own mortality. That is just our human nature. Nevertheless, the clock is ticking for each of us. Our first article highlights some critical issues we all need to address while there is still time to make proper financial and legal plans.
  • Lasting Letters
    In our second article, we encourage you to consider lasting letters as a means to enrich relationships with your loved ones. Since letter writing has become a lost art, the mere fact that you make the effort will be remarkable.
• February 2012
  • Generational Generosity
    Would you prefer to transfer more wealth to your family instead of the IRS? Our first article summarizes the relevant lifetime gifting rules and considers two common do-it-yourself transfer methods.
  • Crummey Trusts
    In our second article, we investigate how lifetime gifting to a Crummey Trust may help reveal the financial maturity level of your loved ones. There are certain i’s to dot and t’s to cross, however, to ensure the successful operation of your Crummey Trust.
• January 2012
  • Five Estate Blunders
    Proper estate planning is not just for the rich and famous. Surprisingly, however, that is a common misconception. Every adult American has an estate worth planning, regardless of their net worth. In this article we review some critical concerns and plans.
  • Family Feuds
    Our second article considers the subject of Family Feuds resulting from an inheritance, or lack thereof. Your family may not resemble the Hatfields and the McCoys, but family disharmony can be avoided through proper planning (and communication).
• December 2011
  • Family Limited Partnerships
    Family Limited Partnerships offer many benefits, both tax and non-tax. Our first article is a primer that explores why they are at once a taxpayer favorite ... and a potential target of the IRS and some courts.
  • Asset Protection
    In our second article, we examine three strategies for protecting your hard-earned wealth: exempting your assets, limiting your liability, and transferring your risk. This article will inspire you to take specific actions today to protect your wealth tomorrow.
    
• November 2011
  • Seasonal Solutions
    To everything there is a season. So it is with your Life & Estate Plan. Our first article uses a Seasons of Life theme to illustrate how your Life & Estate Plan may change with your personal and financial circumstances over your lifetime.
  • The Three P's Protocol
    On our second article, we review the process of organizing your legal affairs to help ensure that your planning is thorough. As you will see, it is simply a matter of identifying your Three P's.
• October 2011
  • Cohabitation Complexities
    Like their married counterparts, unmarried cohabitants need to make appropriate Life & Estate Plans to avoid especially unpleasant and expensive surprises. Our first article reviews common challenges in the context of some real-life scenarios..
  • Postmarital Planning
    Next we examine legal tools and techniques that are must-haves for married couples, and some that may be more important depending on your unique needs. You will want to share this article with your married friends and family members.
• September 2011
  • Marital Matters
    This month we focus on making proper estate plans to avoid common legal and financial challenges in your marriage. Meeting these challenges will help you honor the vows you made on your wedding day to care for one another.
  • Non-Citizen Spouses
    Fact: Many U.S. citizens marry non-citizen spouses. Problem: Lifetime and post-mortem transfers to a non-citizen spouse can trigger significant gift and estate taxes. The tax rules are complex and proper estate planning requires great care.
• August 2011
  • Admirable Administration
    Have you appointed trusted family members, friends or professionals to serve as the fiduciaries of your estate plan upon your death? If so, our first article is a must-read as we review some of the responsibilities (and liabilities) they will face.
  • Treasure Hunt
    Every youngster, at one time or another, dreams of going on a treasure hunt. However, the fiduciaries of your estate will not find inventorying your assets to be nearly as exciting. Our next article provides tips on making their job easier (and less expensive).
• July 2011
  • Creative Giving
    There is an old saying that “[i]f you are giving while you are living, then you are knowing where it is going.” Our first article focuses on creative giving ideas for grandparents who want to share and enjoy a living legacy with their children and grandchildren.
  • Veteran of the Month
    Next we introduce you to our newest Veteran of the Month, Dorothy Stahl. We hope you enjoy learning a little about Dorothy.
• June 2011
  • Planning for Incapacity
    While most estate plans focus on planning for death, incapacity planning is often overlooked. Our lead article focuses on this important subject, so you can spare yourself and your loved ones potential family conflicts and unplanned expenses.
  • Veteran of the Month
    Next we introduce a new feature to our newsletter...our Veteran of the Month. This month’s veteran is Norman Lynch. To say that Norman is a real character doesn’t do him justice. Read about one of the many unforgettable veterans that we’ve had the pleasure to work with.