Porting the Estate Tax Exemption – Should You?

In 1916, the U.S. enacted a tax on estates. And also in 1916, the U.S. established the first exemption from estate tax for estates below $40,000. It has been a wild ride ever since. In 1993, the exemption from estate tax was $600,000. In 2002 the exemption was $1,000,000. In 2024 the exemption is $13,610,000. […]

The Anne Heche Estate Planning Disaster

I went looking for 2022 celebrity deaths ending up mired in the probate courts. I only found one. Anne Heche. Shortly after her breakup with Ellen DeGeneres in 2000, Anne Heche started seeing Coleman Laffoon. Coleman and Heche married in September 2001, had a child named Homer Laffoon, separated in 2006, and divorced around 2007. […]

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Estate Planning and Beneficiary Designations

We are often asked about the best way to avoid the problems associated with probate in transferring property to the beneficiaries of wills. The short video below offers some insights on the issues and how best to ensure a smooth transfer of assets.

Transfer or Trust in Estate Planning

Passing ownership of property and other assets from one generation to another requires planning. This is especially true in long held assets where the tax base for the asset is passed to the beneficiary and can result in substantial capital gains tax coming along as well. We’re prepared a short overview of how this can […]

How To Lose Your Child’s Inheritance In One Easy Step

Jack’s mother and stepfather were married 25 years ago. Jack’s stepfather moved into Jack’s mother’s house when Jack was a teenager.  Three years later the house was sold to purchase a new home.  The new home was titled in the couple’s name as joint tenants with right of survivorship. Along with the house, Jack’s mother […]

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Margarita Fever – Buying Real Estate in the Land of the Fideicomiso (Mexico)

Coloradoans are getting Margarita Fever. A trip to the Mexican sun coast. Warmth, salt air and a whiff of humidity. A yearning for a piece of Mexican paradise warms the body while a little tequila whispers soulfully that it is the right thing to do. Why A Fideicomiso? Foreigners cannot directly own Mexican real property […]

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Lease Guarantees and Other Agreements

We hope that you’ll find these tips and insights helpful for your life planning. We are here to assist you. We appreciate your feedback and inquiries.

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Worried about a Child’s Inheritance in a Divorce?

Worried About A Child’s Inheritance in a Divorce?  Think Inheritance Trust. In 2019 the U.S. marriage rate for women was 16.3 per 1,000 women 15 years or older.  The divorce rate was 7.6.  For those wondering why women and not men, according to the U.S. Census bureau, women are a better and more accurate source […]

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When Using a Power of Attorney is a Bad Idea

Part of planning for your life is anticipating that you may become incapacitated and need someone to make decisions as you would like. A written power of attorney gives someone you trust this power. There are; however, a number of things to keep in mind as you do this. We get these questions often. Can […]

Probate: Exempt Property & Family Allowance

The Exempt Property Allowance and the Family Allowance When a person dies and a probate proceeding is commenced in Colorado, certain payments and expenses have priority over the others. Right at the top of that list is the exempt property allowance and the family allowance. Exempt Property: Priority Over all Claims Against the Estate The […]