Estate Planning for the GLBT community

If a member of the GLBT community fails to properly plan, the result can be devastating to his or her partner and family. Having no estate plan, or relying upon a Will, Joint Tenancy, or Tenancy in Common as an estate plan, is tantamount to giving up control of...

Attacking a will

Attacking a Will When a person dies with an effective will in place, the will may be submitted to a court for “probate.” During this court procedure, the will can be declared valid and binding on the estate of the decedent. In addition, debts are paid,...

Social Security

Social Security Background The social security program began in 1935 when the Social Security Act was first enacted. At that time, the program was almost exclusively a retirement benefit program. The program gave monthly benefits to covered workers who had reached age...

Estate Tax Issues

Tax Issues Will my estate automatically have to pay taxes at my death? Not necessarily. In the event your gross estate (i.e., all of the assets in which you own an interest-probate and nonprobate) is less than the $1,500,000 exemption allowed under law, no estate tax...