This is Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC's Typepad Profile.
Join Typepad and start following Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC's activity
Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC
Recent Activity
Introducing Our Redesigned Blog
We've redesigned and relocated our blog! Enjoy the same great content and weekly updates via email. We'll keep our archive right here, but for fresh news, visit us at https://graberjohnson.com/blog/. Continue reading
Posted Feb 4, 2022 at Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC Blog
Comment
0
How to Check the Validity of a Will
“Without a valid will, a person’s estate passes to their surviving heirs under intestate succession (i.e., ‘succession without a will’).” A properly created will is used to distribute assets, name the executor of the estate, provide details for the powers you want the executor to have and more, depending on... Continue reading
Posted Feb 4, 2022 at Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC Blog
Comment
0
Will Social Security Get a Raise in 2022?
“Last year, the Social Security Administration announced that seniors would be getting their largest cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, in decades. Fueled by rampant inflation, Social Security benefits are in line for a 5.9% boost this year.” The COLA increase in Social Security is welcomed by seniors depending upon their benefits... Continue reading
Posted Feb 3, 2022 at Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC Blog
Comment
0
Update on Transfer Taxes for 2022
“Despite the various proposals to lower federal transfer tax (estate, gift and GST taxes) exemptions and increase the tax rates, none of them were enacted in 2021.” It’s possible that some of these proposals may be enacted in 2022, but for now, they are moot. In the meantime, exemptions have... Continue reading
Posted Feb 2, 2022 at Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC Blog
Comment
0
What Happens to IRAs and 401(k)s when Spouse Dies?
“The rise in the stock market over the past several years, teamed with the passage of the SECURE Act two years ago and the scheduled 50% reduction in the size of the federal estate tax exemption four years from now, has resulted in a renewed interest in estate planning for... Continue reading
Posted Feb 1, 2022 at Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC Blog
Comment
0
Can a Trust Be Created to Protect a Pet?
“Based on a recent survey by the American Pet Products Association, as of 2020, 70% of households in the U.S. have pets—about 90.5 million households.” One of the goals of estate planning is to care for loved ones, particularly those who depend on us for care after we have passed... Continue reading
Posted Feb 1, 2022 at Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC Blog
Comment
0
What Is Considered an Asset in an Estate?
“This is an important question to ask, because the answer could tell you whether you need to worry about estate taxes, beneficiary issues or probate concerns.” Estate planning attorneys are often asked if a particular asset will be included in an estate, from life insurance and real estate to employment... Continue reading
Posted Jan 28, 2022 at Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC Blog
Comment
0
What Power Does an Executor Have?
“If a loved one asks you to be the executor of their estate, think carefully before you take on this responsibility.” Being asked to serve as an executor is a big compliment with potential pitfalls, advises the recent article “How to Prepare to Be an Executor of an Estate” from... Continue reading
Posted Jan 27, 2022 at Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC Blog
Comment
0
Elder Financial Abuse Can Be Prevented
“Advice for adult children, so their parents in nursing homes and assisted living are safe from scammers.” Elder financial abuse is always upsetting, but it’s even worse when a parent is in a long-term care facility and adult children aren’t there to prevent it or stop it. This is especially... Continue reading
Posted Jan 26, 2022 at Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC Blog
Comment
0
What are the Negatives of Investing in Cryptocurrency?
“What happens when all of a corpse's money is in his cold wallet?” When Matthew Mellon died suddenly in 2018, he was worth almost $200 million. He owned nine sports cars, a watch worth more than most American’s annual income and left one daughter the priceless collection of Mellon family... Continue reading
Posted Jan 25, 2022 at Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC Blog
Comment
0
How Does a Charitable Trust Help with Estate Planning?
“In general, the best reason to establish a charitable trust, is if you would like to create a long-standing form of charitable giving.” Simply put, a charitable trust holds assets and distributes assets to charitable organizations. The person who creates the trust, the grantor, decides how the trust will manage... Continue reading
Posted Jan 25, 2022 at Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC Blog
Comment
0
What are Digital Assets in a Will?
“Most family members may not have a clue what we have floating out in cyberspace. Accessing or deleting accounts can be tricky for family members, if they don’t have your login credentials.” Most of us overlook the amount of information and assets we have online, from social media to networking... Continue reading
Posted Jan 14, 2022 at Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC Blog
Comment
0
Can You Remove Someone from a Life Estate?
“Life estates can provide effective means to create joint ownership of property, avoid probate and transfer property after death without incurring gift taxes.” Parents often use life estates to leave the family home to children, while remaining in the house for the rest of their lives. However, sometimes things don’t... Continue reading
Posted Jan 13, 2022 at Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC Blog
Comment
0
Should Young Adults have a Will?
“Millennials are finally embracing one of the cornerstones of adulthood, by writing their wills.” Young adults are starting to get their affairs in order, contacting estate planning attorneys because they are concerned about dying unexpectedly. A study by Caring.com, a senior referral service, said that almost a third of young... Continue reading
Posted Jan 12, 2022 at Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC Blog
Comment
0
Is It Better to Inherit Stock or Cash?
“If you’re planning to leave your heirs any sort of inheritance, you’re already giving them a valuable financial leg up.” To make an inheritance even more advantageous for heirs, it’s a good idea to streamline accounts and simplify what you own before you die, eliminating some complications during a very... Continue reading
Posted Jan 12, 2022 at Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC Blog
Comment
0
James Brown Estate Battle Resolved … Almost, but Not Quite
“For more than a decade, Brown’s heirs and estate administrators, including Mr. Bauknight and Adele Pope, a former executor, have battled in court over the value of his estate.” A company specializing in buying and marketing estates and song catalogs has bought the assets of James Brown’s estate, including music... Continue reading
Posted Jan 12, 2022 at Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC Blog
Comment
0
Why Naming Beneficiaries Is Important to Your Estate Plan
“If you’ve ever spent time working through your estate plan, you know how important it is to select and update your beneficiaries.” For the loved ones of people who neglect to update the beneficiaries on their estate plan and assets with the option of naming beneficiaries, the cost in time,... Continue reading
Posted Jan 7, 2022 at Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC Blog
Comment
0
How Do You Split an Estate in a Blended Family?
“Good estate planning must consider more than what you want to happen to your property and for your beneficiaries. It also must consider what you intentionally want to avoid happening.” Estate planning attorneys know just how often blended families with the best of intentions find themselves embroiled in disputes, when... Continue reading
Posted Jan 6, 2022 at Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC Blog
Comment
0
How Much Is the Required Minimum Distribution from Retirement Accounts?
“Americans are living longer than they were a generation ago, and the government knows it. Starting in 2022, that will be reflected in the amount of money you have to draw from retirement accounts at different ages.” The IRS has updated the formulas for Required Minimum Distributions, or RMDs, the... Continue reading
Posted Jan 5, 2022 at Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC Blog
Comment
0
Does a TOD Supersede a Trust?
“Both help you pass down assets, while avoiding the time and expense of probate. However, one has much more flexibility than the other.” Many people incorporate a TOD, or “Transfer on Death” into their financial plan, thinking it will be easier for their loved ones than creating a trust. The... Continue reading
Posted Jan 4, 2022 at Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC Blog
Comment
0
What Happens to an HSA when Owner Dies?
“Do you know what happens to your HSA after you die? Health savings accounts, called HSAs for short, function differently than most other kinds of accounts.” An HSA, or Health Savings Account, can be an excellent way to save for medical expenses. For wage earners with high-deductible HSA-eligible health insurance... Continue reading
Posted Jan 3, 2022 at Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC Blog
Comment
0
Is It Necessary to have a Medical Power of Attorney?
“Selecting medical powers of attorney is an important step that aging parents should take to ensure they get the care they want, if they are unable to advocate for themselves.” There’s no way around it, this is a difficult conversation to have with aging parents or loved ones. Who will... Continue reading
Posted Dec 31, 2021 at Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC Blog
Comment
0
What is the Purpose of an ILIT?
“Life insurance is a sophisticated financial product, with as many variations and permutations as there are creative insurance companies (there are many) and creative insurance planners (there are even more).” Life insurance falls into two categories: life insurance and death insurance. Life insurance is used to take advantage of the... Continue reading
Posted Dec 30, 2021 at Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC Blog
Comment
0
Prince Philip’s Will: Are Royals Different than Regular People?
“Should the Royal family be an exception to the normal laws governing probate?” There’s a royal battle brewing over Prince Philip’s will, but it’s not what you might expect. The lawsuit isn’t being brought by a creditor or even a potential beneficiary of the estate, A major United Kingdom newspaper,... Continue reading
Posted Dec 30, 2021 at Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC Blog
Comment
0
What Taxes Have to Be Paid When Someone Dies?
“Tax obligations continue on despite the passing of a loved one, and in some cases, come about because of it. Tax deadlines pose a challenge for grieving families.” The last thing families want to think about after a loved one has passed are taxes, but they must be dealt with,... Continue reading
Posted Dec 30, 2021 at Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC Blog
Comment
0
More...
Subscribe to Graber & Johnson Law Group LLC’s Recent Activity