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Apr
What is a Trust and What are the Powers and Duties of a Trustee?
A trust is a fiduciary relationship with respect to property in which one person, the trustee, holds the legal title to the trust property for the benefit of another person or persons, the beneficiary. Essentially, it is a device where one or more persons manage the property for...
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Apr
What Happens in North Carolina When an Individual Dies Without Executing a Will?
Research shows that over 50% of Americans die without executing a will. A person dies intestate if he or she dies without making a valid will. If you die without making a will, then the intestacy laws of the state of North Carolina (or the state in which you reside at your death)...
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Apr
Will Caveats
It is essential for anyone with legitimate questions about a will or an estate to retain an experienced litigator to help either defend or challenge a will. Will contests, also known as will caveats in North Carolina, can be a most unpleasant form of litigation. Peter McGuire has...
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Apr
2014 Year End Tax Planning Memorandum
The 2014 year has been relatively quiet regarding new tax legislation, but several changes have been put in place. As the year winds down, it is a good time to review your tax and gift strategies. This letter may be used as a checklist to ensure you are well-positioned for the ye...
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Apr
Tax Tips to take to Minimize income and estate taxes in Trusts and Estate Planning
1. Consider distributions to beneficiaries Because the maximum ordinary tax rate (39. 6 percent) and the net investment income tax (3. 8 percent) apply to trust income at a much lower threshold than they do for individuals, trustees of discretionary trusts should consider distribu...
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Apr
Steven Allen Resigning to Begin New Clerkship
With a combination of sadness and pride, Strauss Attorneys PLLC. , announces that its estate controversy litigator, Steven J. Allen, will resign on July 31, 2014 to begin a clerkship in Mobile, Alabama with Senior United States Circuit Judge Emmitt R. Cox, United States Court of A...
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Apr
The Three-Year Review and The Three-Year Plan
Review your life's circumstances from three years ago. Think about what you knew and what you didn’t know about managing your wealth. What were the top five lessons you learned? How have your views about money and wealth changed? Given all that, where do you want to b...
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Apr
What the New Tax Law Means to You
As you probably know, Congress avoided the so-called fiscal cliff by passing – at the 11th hour – the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (the 2012 Tax Act), signed into law by the President on January 2, 2013. The 2012 Tax Act makes several important revisions to the tax code t...
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Apr
Most of us are Guilty of Wasting Money
Most of us are guilty of wasting money. We pay too much for convenience. We don't comparison shop or look for bargains. We waste money staying in the same routines-shopping at the same stores, eating at the same places, using the same services. We may not even realize...
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Apr
Charitable Remainder Trusts
The Charitable Remainder Trust (“`CRT”) of trust specifically authorized by the Internal Revenue Code. These irrevocable trusts permit you to transfer ownership of assets to the trust in exchange for an income stream to the person or persons of your choice (typically you, your sp...
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