Americans have enjoyed historically high estate tax exemption rates for most of the last twenty years. Such high exemption amounts have kept many of them from needing to seek out more advanced estate planning strategies to avoid estate taxes, which have been as high as 60 percent during those same years. However, it is uncertain […]
Estate Tax
The 2020 Election: Baby Blue Wave from Austin Estate Planning Attorney Liz Nielsen
Now that the election is over, what next? There is still a lot of uncertainty over the results and the effects that will follow. It appears that Joe Biden will be our next President, but the division of Congress is less clear. What can voters anticipate if President Joe Biden is elected, but the Congress […]
State Estate and Inheritance Taxes From Austin Estate Planning Lawyer Liz Nielsen
When planning your estate, you might be worried about estate taxes. The good news is that for many families, this is not something you need to worry about. In Texas, there is no state inheritance or estate tax. Additionally, the federal gift and estate tax exclusion is currently very high, sitting at $11.58 million for […]
Can I Refuse an Inheritance? From Austin Estate Planning Lawyer Liz Nielsen
Why would anyone want to refuse an inheritance? Although it is surprising to many, there are several circumstances when declining an inheritance can be beneficial. The law does permit you to refuse an inheritance if you comply with certain strict requirements. The legal term for a refusal of an inheritance is a “disclaimer,” which is […]