Many people add friends or family members to their bank accounts for convenience or to avoid probate. But, when circumstances change, and the original account holders want to regain sole ownership of their accounts, they are shocked to learn they cannot. Many people add friends or family members to their bank accounts for convenience or to avoid probate. But, when…
Category: Estate Planning
Why you shouldn’t be concerned about the Federal Estate Tax
The federal estate tax is also sometimes known as the “death tax”. This is a federal tax imposed upon estates in which the assets total greater than $5.43 million for individuals who are single at the time of their death. No death taxes are imposed on estates where a person leaves all assets to a surviving spouse. Surprisingly, the federal…
What happens if you die before you sign your will. Who gets what?
People frequently wonder what will happen if they die intestate – that is, without a will. Don’t worry, the state has written a will for you, but it just may not be the one you want. The following is a summary of that state-authored will: • If you are married and have children under the age of 18, your…