Law Office of Michael Robinson, P.C.

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 Attorneys With 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...] about How to Lend a Hand and Save Taxes

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...] about How Likely Is That To Happen?

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 Attorneys You 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...] about Estate Planning Lessons – Wesley Snipes and the “Pure Trust” Argument

My Attorney Just Retired – What Now?  Compliments of Our Law Firm, Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys Over 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...] about My Attorney Just Retired – What Now?

Top 10 Reasons Why Your Estate Plan Needs Your Attention Now!  Compliments of Our Law Firm, Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys Estate 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...] about Top 10 Reasons Why Your Estate Plan Needs Your Attention Now!

Estate Planning and Happily Ever After Compliments of Our Law Firm, Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys You 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...] about Estate Planning and Happily Ever After

When Roles Reverse and Your Parents Need Your Help  Compliments of Our Law Firm, Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys Thanks 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...] about When Roles Reverse and Your Parents Need Your Help

Understanding the Federal Gift Tax and its Implications  Compliments of Our Law Firm, Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys The 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...] about Understanding the Federal Gift Tax and its Implications

Practical Discussions About Funerals  Compliments of Law Office of Michael Robinson, P.C., Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys With 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...] about Practical Discussions About Funerals

Written By: The American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys The 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...] about Family Feud – Don’t Let This Be Your Legacy