To Live a Happier life, Start Thinking About Death Now

by Trust Counsel | Oct 5, 2018 | Articles, Asset Protection, Estate Planning, Inheritance

  Want to know a proven way to live a more fulfilling life? All you have to do is fully accept the fact that one day you’re going to die. “I am of the nature to die. There is no way to escape death.” -Upajjhatthana Sutta The unavoidable nature of death is a basic...

Before Agreeing to Serve as Trustee, Carefully Consider the Duties and Obligations Involved—Part 1

by Leslie Marenco | Jul 20, 2018 | Articles, Estate Planning

If a friend or family member has asked you to serve as trustee for their trust upon their death, you should feel honored—this means they consider you among the most honest, reliable, and responsible people they know. However, being a trustee is not only a great honor,...

New Bill is Potential Game Changer for Your Family’s Tax Strategy

by Leslie Marenco | Dec 15, 2017 | Articles, Estate Planning, Estate Tax, Income Tax, IRS

If you follow the mainstream or social media news, you likely know the new Republican tax bill, which recently passed both the House and Senate, is a potential game changer for tax planning. Known as the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act,” both houses of Congress passed...

The Pitfalls of DIY Wills: Lessons Learned from a Florida Probate Case

by Leslie Marenco | Oct 13, 2017 | Articles, Case Law, Estate Planning, Probate, Wills

  DIY wills are becoming more prevalent as legal services can now be accessed easily online. For better or worse, more and more people are turning to online services to meet their legal needs, maybe even you.   Here’s what you need to know before you decide...

Easy Mistakes to Avoid When Passing Assets to Your Child

by Leslie Marenco | Oct 6, 2017 | Articles, Asset Protection, Estate Planning, Trusts

Setting up a trust fund for your children can ensure that the money you are leaving behind for them is taken care for them, in the way that you want. But your efforts in completing this important, yet somber task can be ruined by making one of these common mistakes....

How Legal Planning Helps Build a Strong Blended Family

by Leslie Marenco | Sep 22, 2017 | Articles, Estate Planning

  Yours, mine and ours … in today’s modern family, it’s oh so common. The blended family is the product of 2nd (or more) marriages, in which one or more of the parties comes with children from a prior marriage. And then, they may even go on to have children...