For many people, charitable gifting is an important part of their daily lives. If you are among them, you may hope to make charitable gifting part of your estate plan as well.  Charitable gifting can be handled in several different ways in your estate plan. The type of beneficiary, size and complexity of the gift, and the amount of control you want to have over how the gift is used will all impact how you make charitable gifts in your estate plan. With all of that in mind, let me offer some suggestions for how to include charitable gifts in [Read more...] The post What Are My Options for ..read more

Joint trusts offer clients many benefits both during life and after death. Those with joint trusts need to understand the limitations inherent in the trust and the importance of seeking qualified counsel upon the death of the first spouse to ensure that the trust administration runs smoothly. A recent Michigan case highlights what happens when the surviving spouse fails to do that or simply ignores the terms of the trust altogether. The post The Joy in Joint Trusts appeared first on DeBruyckere Law Offices, PC | Estate Planning & Medicaid Attorneys ..read more

People often believe that Estate Planning is a “simple” process designed only for those whose estates will exceed the Applicable Exclusion Amount of $12.92 million in 2023. That myopic view causes many who should undertake Estate Planning to skip it altogether or to look for ways to complete the planning on their own without the services of a qualified Estate Planning attorney. As the last article in this two-part series demonstrated, numerous taxes impact Estate Planning. This second part of this series continues by exploring the various non-tax reasons to create a comprehensive Estate Plan ..read more

As the parent of a child with special needs, the need for comprehensive estate planning is increased if you hope to provide for your child financially while you are here and after you are gone. When your child has special needs, you must be careful not to jeopardize your child’s eligibility for state and federal assistance programs when he/she becomes a legal adult. Incorporating a special needs planning component into your overall estate plan is important. With that in mind, the Beverly special needs planning attorneys at DeBruyckere Law Offices discuss what you need to know to protect your s ..read more

As another tax season closes, it’s a good time to review the list of “Dirty Dozen” tax schemes published by the Internal Revenue Service for the year. Many of these schemes peak during tax time and involve fraudsters looking for ways to steal taxpayers’ money, personal information, and data. Attorneys can help their clients by alerting them to these scams and providing advice on how to avoid them. The post The IRS’ Annual Warning: The 2023 Dirty Dozen appeared first on DeBruyckere Law Offices, PC | Estate Planning & Medicaid Attorneys ..read more

The loss of a loved one, even if anticipated, is never easy to handle. The hours and days that follow are typically marked by heightened emotions, lack of sleep, and general confusion. In short, not the best conditions for making critical decisions; yet that is precisely what surviving loved ones must often do. To prevent funeral and burial service providers from taking advantage of survivors during this time, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enacted the “Funeral Rule.” To ensure that you understand the rights and protections you have, the estate planning attorneys at DeBruyckere Law Offices ..read more

Although Alzheimer’s Disease is not a new disease, its prevalence has increased dramatically in recent decades. Consequently, there is a very real possibility that you will be faced with an Alzheimer’s diagnosis – either yours or that of a loved one — at some point during your lifetime. If that happens, will you know what to do? There is no way to fully prepare for the emotional impact of Alzheimer’s; however, there are things you can do to prepare for the medical, legal, and practical ramifications of the disease. With that in mind, the elder law attorneys at DeBruyckere Law [Read more...] Th ..read more

Regular readers of this blog often see articles regarding the latest celebrity whose death created a mess because their Estate Plan failed to properly protect the celebrity’s family and loved ones. It seems that an individual with fame and money could easily avoid that result; however, that’s not always the case. The fallout caused by inadequate Estate Plans of celebrities provides great lessons for Estate Planning practitioners and their clients because the drama unfolds on a public stage. Tragically, Lisa Marie Presley died on January 12, 2023 and her death marks yet another celebrity Estate ..read more

To the average person, estate planning and related topics are typically unfamiliar. Unfortunately, this often means that people do not realize how an estate planning attorney can help them or when they need the assistance of one. In fact, most people are surprised to learn how many different ways in which an estate planning attorney might be able to help them. To help make sure you get the support, guidance, and assistance you need when you need it, the Beverly estate planning attorneys at DeBruyckere Law Offices explain 10 ways in which an estate planning attorney can help you. Contact [Read ..read more

When the Supreme Court issued its opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, 576 U.S. 644 (2015), Estate Planning practitioners took note. Justice Clarence Thomas, in his concurring opinion, indicated that it would be appropriate to revisit that were decided on substantive due process rights. This led Trust and Estate attorneys to question whether Estate Planning for same-sex couples needs to change. President Biden answered the question in the negative by signing into law the Respect for Marriage Act. The post What Does the Respect for Marriage Act Mean for Estate Planning? appe ..read more