Estate planning, truth is, involves an effort to look into the future, anticipating others' needs and helping reduce heartaches and hassle for family members. Last week, in our Geyer Law blog post, "Leaving Legacies, Not Burdens", we discussed "problem assets" that...
There are assets it's good to leave to loved ones, and then there are others --well not-so good. "Let's face it," Elaine Silvestrini and David Rodeck point out in Kiplinger, "Certain inheritances can be a tremendous burden on your loved ones." "After loved ones...
"Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent," Steve Jobs is known to have said. "Not every historical figure meets a cinematic or heroic end," Colin Scanlon writes in Mental Floss. While the article may have been...
"Business succession planning is both necessary and beneficial," Mark Cussen observes in Investopedia. But the process isn't easy, as our Geyer Law estate planning attorneys know. Whether you’re the owner of a small family business or a large corporation, the...
"Mishandled, estate and/or trust administration can cause family rifts; on the other hand, competent and careful management helps keep family memories happy and purpose-intact," Margaret A. Munro and Kathryn A Murphy explain in Estate and Trust Administration for...
The VA projects that the number of living veterans will continue to decline over the next 25 years, Katherine Schaeffer observes in a piece by the Pew Research Center, and the share of the U.S. population with military experience has declined to less than 6%. "Thank...
Donor-advised funds are charitable investment accounts that individuals or families can use exclusively for the support of charities they care about. These funds can be opened with a minimum gift of $5,000 and have significantly lower administrative burden and costs...
Millions will soon inherit a house full of sentimental items, Kathy Barnes notes in Better Homes and Gardens. But the transfer of physical belongings can cause overwhelm and stress. Our older generations want to know that their belongings will be appreciated. Heirs...
Last week in our Geyer Law blog, discussing college planning after a parent dies, we discussed the important role college funding plays in estate planning for both parents and grandparents. A recent piece in Kiplinger's, in contrast, discusses the very broad - perhaps...
"And no matter what, there's not one thing in this world or the next that we can do or hope or guess at or wish or pray that can change it or help it one iota," James Agee wrote in the book A Death in the Family. "The loss of a spouse can upend a family's future,"...
