After Tax Reform, Is Estate Planning Still Necessary? from Austin Estate Planning Lawyer Liz Nielsen

Estate Planning after Tax Reform Austin Lawyer Liz Nielsen

The new tax legislation raises the federal estate tax exemption to $11.2 million for individuals and $22.4 million for couples. The increase means that an exceedingly small number of estates (only about 1,800, nationally) will have to worry about federal estate taxes in 2018, according to estimates from the nonpartisan congressional Joint Committee on Taxation.

So, you may be wondering, is estate planning even still necessary?

To put it simply: Yes!

Husband with Alzheimer’s Proposed to Wife of 38 Years, and They Married Again. From Austin Texas Estate Planning Lawyer Liz Nielsen.

Austin Probate

Michael Joyce has Alzheimer’s and suffers from memory loss. The disease had progressed so much that he forgot he was married to his wife, Linda Joyce, of 38 years. However, he had not forgotten that he was in love with her. Recently, Michael asked Linda to marry him, again. Instead of telling him they were already married, Linda said “Of course I will.” To her surprise, the next morning Michael woke up and asked, “So, when are we doing this?”