People in North Carolina who are creating an estate plan should make sure they remember to include beneficiary designations. These are the individuals who receive assets such as retirement accounts and life insurance policies, which do not have to go through probate....
Firm News
Is DIY estate planning worth the risks?
Recently, you may have begun thinking more seriously about creating an estate plan. This desire may have stemmed from the recent birth of a child, a milestone birthday, the death of a loved one or numerous other factors. No matter the reason, creating this type of...
Why everybody should think about estate planning
North Carolina residents or anyone else with assets should consider creating an estate plan. Doing so may provide a level of control over who gets cash inside of a 401k or who gets ownership of a house. An estate plan may also protect beneficiaries who aren't good at...
Using transfer on death to bypass probate
North Carolina residents might wonder how they can arrange their estates to avoid probate. One man named his daughter as a beneficiary on investments and left her his car and home in his will. He wondered if there might be a better way of doing this. While it is...
Divorce and estate planning
People in North Carolina who are getting a divorce may want to consider changing their estate plan as well. If a person dies before the divorce is final or shortly after the divorce, the ex- or soon-to-be-ex-spouse could end up with the person's assets. For example,...
Set the stage for continued business success and a lasting legacy
Successful business owners like you understand the importance of good leadership. After all, your North Carolina business did not grow into the productive, prosperous company it is today by osmosis. You put your whole heart and soul (and a lot of time and effort) into...
When an irrevocable trust needs to be decanted
Traditionally, the only way to change an irrevocable trust is with the permission of beneficiaries and costly, time-consuming legal action. The idea behind an irrevocable trust is that the assets in it are outside of the control of the grantor and that it remains...
What to know about estate taxes in 2018
In 2018, residents of North Carolina, along with the rest of the country, will have a $5.6 million federal estate tax exemption. This is an increase from $5.49 million in 2017. Couples may choose to combine their individual exemptions, which means that they have a...
When an asset protection trust may make sense
North Carolina residents who are looking to do what's best for their children may be interested in creating a spendthrift trust. This may be especially useful for those who may not have had experience handling money who may otherwise be inheriting a lot of it at once....
Estate tax rules withdrawn by the Treasury Department
Small business owners in North Carolina may breathe a sigh of relief upon learning that the proposed valuation rules for family businesses will be withdrawn by the Treasury Department. The rules were proposed in August 2016 and would have greatly limited discounts in...