What constitutes a “large” gift can be relative. That being said, if you are considering giving cash or property to someone, a little bit of planning can really help avoid negative consequences. This is particularly true if the gifted amounts are over $15,000.00, will be gifted in property, will be gifted on a regular basis, or […]
There is no question that having children changes everything — and your estate planning is no exception. If you and your spouse pass away or become legally incapacitated, and arrangements were never made in the event of such an emergency, your minor child or children will have to be placed with a new family. Not surprisingly, […]
On many of your assets, including retirement accounts or life insurance, you can designate a “beneficiary” to receive the funds upon your passing. There is now a new asset that you can allocate directly to an individual – your car. Texas law will now allow you to name a single beneficiary for any vehicle, registered in […]
Anytime you need to go to the hospital, whether it’s for a broken bone, birth of a new baby, or surgery, there are a few documents they will request from you. Sometimes these forms can be completed by you at the hospital. However, what happens if you need medical assistance and you are incapacitated or unconscious? […]
Most business owners have their estate planning prepared because they are worried about what will happen to their business after they are dead. However, proper estate planning has the added benefit of allowing you to make plans for what will happen if you are incapacitated or needing to be away from your business for an extended […]
For many employees, saving for retirement is usually a matter of simply participating in their employer’s 401(k) plan and perhaps opening an IRA for some extra savings. But, for business owners, planning for retirement requires proactivity and strategy. It’s not just the dizzying array of choices for retirement accounts; there’s also planning for the business itself. […]
Retiring from your business can a tough decision. To ensure that what you have built continues on, there needs to be a plan for succession. For some people, they have spent years grooming a child or other family member to take over, wanting the business to stay in the family. Others look to sell to a […]
Estate planning is an important task that everyone should undertake as it helps to protect your family and loved ones’ financial future. But estate planning can do much more than focus on finances; it can also provide care for those you leave behind. One aspect of estate planning that is often overlooked but can be quite […]
Did you ever wonder what happens to your digital footprint when you pass away? Well you should, particularly if you are part of the 77 percent of Americans who go online every day. As the internet has become more of an integral part of our lives, our information — pictures, videos, financial, emails, social media accounts, […]
If you are preparing to send your son or daughter off to college to pursue higher education, you may be wondering how their first semester of school will go. During this exciting new chapter in your family’s life, the last thing you may be thinking about is estate planning for your college-aged child. While your child […]
