Category Archives: Inheritance

A Blind Trust: What is it?

blind trust word or concept represented by wooden letter tiles on a wooden table with glasses and a book

The beneficiary of a blind trust also has no knowledge of what goes on with the trust. However, in most cases, the trust-maker is also the beneficiary. That is, the trust contains their personal money and property, and the trustee manages that money and property for the benefit of the trust-maker-beneficiary—the trust-maker-beneficiary just has no knowledge of, or control over, the activities of the trust.

Inheritance: Should You Accept It?

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The news that you will be receiving an inheritance is often bittersweet. Sadly, it means that somebody close to you died. However, you might also have mixed emotions about your inheritance for reasons that have to do with the actual accounts or inherited property. 

Vacation Property Investing

Family Vacation Property Heirs

The National Association of Home Builders reports that people owned 7.5 million second homes in 2018. This makes up 5.5 percent of the total number of homes. Such vacation property must be planned for, managed, and maintained. What’s more, they birth happy memories for their owners. Consider these estate planning questions to protect your place […]

Tax Planning: Meat Loaf’s Estate

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Using a bypass trust is another way to avoid the estate tax. In this case, Meat Loaf could have created a trust to hold an amount equal to his unused individual lifetime exclusion amount ($12.06 million), with any excess passing to his wife either outright or through a marital trust, therefore bypassing estate tax liability.

A Supplemental Needs Trust Protects Loved Ones

Special needs trust application with clipboard and notepad.

Most people think disability affects other people. However, approximately 61 million U.S. adults live with a disability. That translates to one in four adults. What’s more, between one and four 20-year-olds become disabled before reaching retirement age.

Statements of Intent or Purpose

Letter of purpose or intent

The reasons a trust-maker creates a trust emerge as important. However, your intent or purpose for creating a trust imparts legal ramifications. Therefore, a trust-maker must express (in writing) their intent or purpose for creating the trust.