How to Lend a Hand and Save Taxes Compliments of the Law Office of Michael Robinson, P.C.,Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning AttorneysWith the proliferation of 24-hour news, it seems impossible to turn on the television, chat on social media, or pick up a newspaper without hearing about yet another natural disaster that has left people hurt, hungry, homeless, or worse. Whether the cause is a tsunami in Indonesia, a deadly disease epidemic in Africa, or a hurricane here in … [Read more...]

How Likely Is That To Happen? Compliments of the Law Office of Michael Robinson, P.C.,Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys“How likely is that to happen?” You have undoubtedly heard these words spoken many times. You have possibly said them yourself when a well-meaning friend or family member tries to warn you about a risk that you perceive as unworthy of consideration. You may have even used this same logic to explain why you have yet to create a comprehensive … [Read more...]

Estate Planning Lessons – Wesley Snipes and the “Pure Trust” Argument Compliments of Law Office of Michael Robinson, P.C.Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning AttorneysYou have likely heard the old adage “The only sure things in life are death and taxes.” In the United States, the adage certainly applies. Without a doubt, most Americans pay their share of taxes. Americans also like to find creative ways to reduce their tax burden. Using legitimate tax reduction strategies is … [Read more...]

My Attorney Just Retired – What Now? Compliments of Our Law Firm,Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning AttorneysOver your lifetime, you’ve established lasting relationships with professionals like dentists, doctors, and attorneys. It’s hard to think that these professionals who have always been available to help us may someday leave their firm or practice. They may retire, move to a new state or pass away. So if your estate planning attorney is no longer available, it opens … [Read more...]

Top 10 Reasons Why Your Estate Plan Needs Your Attention Now! Compliments of Our Law Firm,Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning AttorneysEstate planning isn’t meant to be a “one and done” type of project. Estate planning reflects the totality of a person’s life, and therefore it should reflect changes that occur in our lives. Not only is a periodic review necessary, it also provides peace of mind in knowing your family’s needs are covered today in case the unthinkable were to … [Read more...]

Estate Planning and Happily Ever AfterCompliments of Our Law Firm,Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning AttorneysYou may have overheard a former classmate at a high school reunion say, “You haven’t changed a bit!” But if you really want to see how much you’ve changed, just take a look through your high school yearbooks. Odds are, any mention of the future from those who signed your yearbook during that rite of passage were probably made by 18 year olds who, like their … [Read more...]

When Roles Reverse and Your Parents Need Your Help Compliments of Our Law Firm,Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning AttorneysThanks to advances in medicine and science, as well as an overall better quality of life, Americans at the beginning of the 21st century have an average life expectancy of almost double what they had at the beginning of the previous century. Despite this, the natural aging process has not changed significantly during the last 100 years. We are simply … [Read more...]

Understanding the Federal Gift Tax and its Implications Compliments of Our Law Firm,Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning AttorneysThe reality is that few Americans will ever have to worry about the federal gift tax. The reason is simple: Federal gift taxes are calculated only on very large gifts you make. The exemption for 2015 is $5,430,000. In 2016, it increases to $5,450,000.  In 2017 it increases to $5,490,000. In 2018 it increases to $11.2 million.  This means until … [Read more...]

Practical Discussions About Funerals Compliments of Law Office of Michael Robinson, P.C.,Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning AttorneysWith all of the uncertainty in life, the one common denominator we all share and none escape is death. We go through life with a mindset of “when” things happen: when we graduate college, when we start a family, when we take that vacation in the French Riviera; yet when it comes to planning for end of life and funerals, we tend to insert an … [Read more...]

Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning AttorneysThe end of the holiday season can sometimes bring families both sadness and relief. While the holidays are a time when loved ones get together to enjoy each other’s company, holiday stress can certainly lead to trivial arguments and miscommunications. Imagine the disagreements that can arise if something more serious were to happen like leaving your loved ones behind to divide up property if you didn’t plan properly.A dispute … [Read more...]