The death of legendary singer Aretha Franklin has shined a new spotlight for many North Carolina fans on the complications that can ensue from dying without a will. When the 76-year-old star passed away in August after battling pancreatic cancer, she had no will or...
A succession plan is good for your small business
North Carolina small business owners know how difficult it is to start a business and make it successful. It takes careful planning and strategy to start a profitable company, but it is also important to plan for the future of your business as well. You can do this by...
Steps to creating an estate plan
Many people in North Carolina are among the half of all baby boomers and 70 percent of all Americans who do not have an estate plan. All adults need an estate plan regardless of their age or income level. Estate plans do not have to be complicated documents, but they...
Tax law changes for trusts and estates
North Carolina residents who are planning for the future may be interested to learn about the ways in which recent tax reforms affect trusts and estates. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which passed in December 2017, has a number of implications for estate planning. In the...
Trust accounts and FDIC insurance limits
Many people in North Carolina use trusts as estate planning tools. These types of accounts can provide significant benefits in terms of estate tax planning and give funders a measure of control over how their assets can be used in the future. In order to ensure the...
Tax code changes impact life insurance trusts
There are an estimated 1,800 estates that will be subject to federal estate taxes after the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The legislation increased the federal estate tax exemption to $11.2 million and $22.4 million for married couples. North Carolina...
