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7 min read
2025 Estate and Gift Tax Report
Pleasanton estate planning attorney explains estate and gift tax rules and considerations for 2025. Keeping step with recent years since...
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5 min read
2023 Estate and Gift Tax Report
As described in this article, 2023 marks the highest estate and gift tax exemptions to date.
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5 min read
How Can Life Insurance Be Used In Estate Planning?
Life insurance is a great tool for estate planning. However, there are nuances that sometimes get overlooked which, if left unchecked,...
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4 min read
The Flexible Estate Tax Planning Trust
"In this world, nothing is certain except death and taxes." - Benjamin Franklin When it comes to estate taxes (otherwise referred to as...
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2 min read
Estate Tax Reform Missing from Current Plan
Instead of focusing on estate tax reform, or the "billionaire tax," the current focus proposes increased taxes on incomes over 10 million.
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2 min read
Here We Go Again - Estate Tax Exemption May Be Reduced Come Next Year
Bill provisions reduce the Estate Tax Exemption from $11.7 Million down to $5 Million adjusted for inflation. effective next year.
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2 min read
Bills to Repeal Stepped-Up Basis
Discussion of the potential loss of the step-up in basis and resulting planning strategies.
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3 min read
How Biden's New Proposed Tax Plan Affects Estate Planning
Biden's American Families Plan did not include provisions to expand estate taxes, and instead focused on capital gains.
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4 min read
Election Result Could Warrant Making Gifts Now Instead of at Death
People are eager to look into ways to gift away assets now, taking advantage of the current gift and estate tax exemption.
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1 min read
Proposed California State Estate Tax Fails
Although many thought is would pass, Senate Bill 378 will not be appearing on the 2020 ballot. There are currently no California Death...
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3 min read
Advanced Estate Planning with Lifetime Gifts
There are a number of estate planning strategies that can help preserve your assets, promote the transfer of wealth, and lessen the tax...
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2 min read
Using Portability in Estate Planning
When one spouse dies, it is generally recommended that the surviving spouse consider filing an Estate Tax return to elect portability.
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3 min read
Farmers, Don’t Make These Five Estate Planning Mistakes
Estate planning for farmers and ranchers can involve many pitfalls for the unwary. First mistake: some farmers think they don’t have to...
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2 min read
California Estate Tax May Reach 2020 Ballot
Estate taxes have been less and less of a concern due to the steadily increasing exemption, which is currently $11.4 million per...
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3 min read
Talk to an Estate Planning Attorney About Tax Cut Act
Estate planning attorneys advise meeting about how the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act could affect your taxes. If you haven’t had a talk with your...
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2 min read
Is This the Golden Age of Tax-Free Gift Giving?
There’s a time limit on the current opportunity for tax-free giving. It expires after tax year 2025 (unless Congress alters the...
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2 min read
What is an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust?
As part of an overall estate planning strategy, says JD Supra in the article “Estate Planning: The Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust,” an...
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2 min read
How to Incorporate Charitable Giving into an Estate Plan
When looking into charitable giving, it can easily become overwhelming. Talking to an experienced estate planning attorney can help make...
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3 min read
No Estate Taxes? You May Still Need Life Insurance
Increases in the estate tax exemption (up to $11.4 million per person as of the date of this writing) has an impact on how some people...
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3 min read
Should I Create My Will Online?
More than 50% of Americans don’t have a will, according to a 2017 survey by Caring.com. A U.S. News & World Report’s article asks “Should...
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