Uncategorized

Corporate Transparency Act Narrowed: What This Means for You

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), enacted in 2021, was designed to combat money laundering and other illicit financial activities by requiring increased transparency in business ownership. It obligated…

FAQs About Trusts, Trusts, Uncategorized

Secure Your Legacy: How Proper Estate Planning Protects Your Retirement Accounts

Retirement accounts often make up a substantial portion of an individual’s estate and warrant thoughtful planning. Naming a trust as the beneficiary of these accounts can offer important…

Uncategorized

How to Protect Seniors from Financial Fraud

Financial fraud targeting seniors is a growing crisis, costing older Americans over $3 billion annually. Scammers target older adults because they often have significant savings, retirement funds, or…

Intestacy, Uncategorized

Texas Intestacy FAQs

What Is Intestacy? Intestacy refers to the legal process that determines how a person’s estate is distributed when they die without a valid will. Texas intestacy laws establish…

Uncategorized

Back to Nature: Exploring Green Burial Options

Imagine walking through a serene forest with sunlight filtering through the trees. Instead of rows of headstones and manicured lawns found in traditional cemeteries, where concrete vaults and metal…

Estate Planning, Uncategorized

Final Regulations Under SECURE Act: What You Need to Know

The IRS released the final regulations to the SECURE Act on July 18, 2024. Although regulations mostly mirror the 2022 proposed regulations, they include some clarifications and changes.

Estate Planning, Uncategorized

Estate Planning for the Unexpected

I read an article last week that served as a sobering reminder of why it’s crucial to plan for the unexpected.The article was about a Pennsylvania couple…

Estate Planning, Odds and Ends, Uncategorized

Beware the Rise of Voice Cloning Scams

Cybercriminals are using AI to mimic the voices of our family members. Learn how to protect yourself from voice-cloning scams.

Uncategorized

What Is an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT)?

An Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust, or “ILIT” is an irrevocable trust that own life insurance.  Historically, Americans have used ILITs as a vehicle to make gifts to beneficiaries…

Uncategorized, Wacky Wills, Wills

Even Ancient Egyptians Wrote Wills!

Last July, I stumbled upon an ancient Will while visiting the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. As an estate planning lawyer, I was delighted.  Will of Naunakhte The Will, written…