A Tragic Oversight: Kobe Bryant’s Youngest Daughter Mistakenly Left Out of Family Trust

by Trust Counsel | Jul 8, 2020 | Articles, Asset Protection, Business Succession, Estate Planning, Estate Tax, Family, Financial, Trusts, Wills

In January, we reported how the deaths of NBA legend Kobe Bryant (Kobe) and his 13-year-old daughter, Brianna, in a helicopter crash demonstrated the vital need for estate planning for people of all ages. At the time, little was known about the planning strategies...

James Brown’s Estate Plan

by Trust Counsel | Jun 30, 2020 | Articles, Asset Protection, Business Succession, Estate Planning, Estate Tax

It’s been fourteen years since the world mourned the loss of music icon James Brown, the Godfather of Soul. Yet all this time, his estate has been mired in litigation. But thanks to a new court ruling, that could finally be coming to an end. The problem isn’t that...

Your “Blended” Family Is Likely Headed to Court Unless You Do This

by Trust Counsel | Jun 26, 2020 | Articles, Asset Protection, Estate Planning, Estate Tax, Family, Trusts, Wills

If you have a blended family and do not plan for what happens to your assets in the event of your incapacity or eventual death, you are almost certainly guaranteeing hurt feelings, conflict, and maybe even a long, drawn out court battle. So let’s start with clarity...

How Do Trusts Help You Save on Taxes?

by Trust Counsel | Jun 19, 2020 | Articles, Asset Protection, Estate Planning, Estate Tax, Trusts, Wills

Many people come to us curious (or confused) about trusts and taxes. So today’s article is going to sort it out and clarify things for you. There are two types of trusts, and each have different tax consequences. Revocable trusts, which are the far more commonly used...

3 Unique Ways to Handle the Guilt Inherent to Being a Parent

by Trust Counsel | May 20, 2020 | Articles, Asset Protection, Estate Planning, Inheritance

If you’re a parent, you may feel even more guilty than usual.  If so, you are definitely not alone. Currently, the burden is on you to both carry on with your work and manage your child’s full-time care and education. Two full-time jobs that you’re trying to do by...

Anderson Cooper is a Dad! Continues Vanderbilt Legacy.

by Trust Counsel | May 1, 2020 | Articles, Asset Protection, Celebrity Estates, Estate Planning, Estate Tax, Trusts, Wills

Anderson Cooper announced the birth of his son, Wyatt, Thursday evening on his show and in a lengthy Instagram post. His son was born on Monday via a surrogate and is named after his father who died when Cooper was 10.  Cooper said he regretted that his parents and...