If you've done any research or reading on the topic of estate planning, you've probably heard the term "life insurance trust" or ILIT for short. Wondering what exactly this type of trust does? Life insurance proceeds are income tax-free, but not estate tax-free. They are includible in your taxable estate for determining federal estate tax. The primary benefit of a life insurance trust is its ability to remove the insurance death benefit from your taxable estate. This means you minimize … [Read more...]
The Inspiration For Our Firm – Why It All Began…
If you don’t know the story, and if you are considering an estate plan or an estate planning law firm to help you design your plan, you need to read this story. It was, as Neil Diamond says, “A Hot August Night.” At the time I was working at United Missouri Bank in Kansas City. I left work at the usual time, around 6 P.M. A dear friend was at the hospital recovering from a bout with cancer. I stopped by to see him, as I’d done a few times each week since his admission. The staff let me … [Read more...]
Confused About the Current Federal Estate Tax Law?
Many of our clients are confused about the current estate tax law. This year (2010) there is no estate tax. Next year (2011) the estate tax exclusion reverts back to $1 million and a maximum tax of 55%. This is an outcome few predicted, most believing – how could they in retrospect – that a prudent Congress would “fix” the law by extending the 2009 exclusion of $3.5 million into the future. Prudent tax policy was pushed over the side of the Health Care mountain. Click HERE to read a new article … [Read more...]
The “Health Care” Debate
Speaking of health care…. We have to talk about this. Caution: some may be offended by the following. So, before you go forward, be aware that the content is strong. Some may not like it. If you’re open minded, want some facts and new ideas, tune in. Health care costs are spiraling out of control. We know there are problems with our current system. We’re told if they are left untended, the current system will bankrupt us. We hear there are 40 million uninsured people in the U.S. By … [Read more...]
How Sensible and Relief-Oriented ARE the Federal Estate Tax Legislative Proposals?
While attending a meeting of the American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, of which I am a Fellow and long-time member, one of the presenters discussed the status of legislative proposals concerning estate tax. In a nutshell…. Today the estate tax exclusion is $3.5 million. As written, current law says the estate tax will be repealed in 2010 and revert back to a $1 million exemption in 2011. With 58 seats in the Senate (plus two Independents), a clear majority of 255 in the House and … [Read more...]
Bad Behavior Can Ruin A Good Plan!
My clients tire of me telling them this. Yet, too often it seems a well designed estate plan goes awry. Here’s an example I picked up from a post by Lou Ann Anderson in a report she wrote. Pay attention to this. This concerns a large estate. That’s not the point. It happens to estates of all sizes. In New York City a trial is underway in which Anthony Marshall, son of New York socialite and philanthropist Brooke Astor, and estate planning attorney Francis Morrissey, Jr., face charges of … [Read more...]
Welcome to the Parman & Easterday Blog
This is the first estate and elder law planning post on our new law firm blog. We will be posting at least weekly and invite your observations and comments. Later today I will jot a few thoughts about the new annual gift exclusion and how it works. Thanks for joining us. Larry Parman … [Read more...]
