In This Season of Thanksgiving...

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

The days are getting shorter, the weather cooler, and the skeletal arms of trees reach for the skies as their colorful apparel rests on the ground. All of these signs point to just one thing... No, not the estate tax repeal (although that does loom close); I’m referring, of course, to the upcoming holiday season—a time to slow down, spend time with family, and appreciate the blessings in our lives.

During this time of celebration and Thanksgiving, our office would like to offer our sincere thanks to you, our clients and readers, for the time you have spent with us, the trust you have put in us, and the role you have let us play in your lives. We hope we may continue to serve you in the coming year.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our readers, and may you enjoy a wonderful holiday season.

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2012

May

Talking to Your Parents About Retirement
Facebook Founders Use GRATs to Avoid Excessive Taxation; You Can Too
The Pros and Cons of Long-Term Care Insurance

April

An Estate Plan Can Highlight Religious Values... Within Limits
7 Major Errors in Estate Planning
Compassion is Key When Talking to Aging Parents
The Good News and The Bad News About Retirement
Transfer of Home Ownership Does Not Replace an Estate Plan
A “New Wave” of Lawsuits May Force Children to Pay for Elderly Parents’ Nursing Costs

March

Will You Need a Probate Attorney?
The High Emotional—And Financial—Cost of Alzheimer’s Disease
How Do You Know If You Need An Estate Plan?
Advice for Executors: How to Manage Final Medical Expenses
Estate Plan Forgery: How to Tell and What to Do
Providing Care for Divorced or Remarried Parents
Elderly Daycare Can Help Prevent Caregiver Burnout
Pre-Planning Your Funeral Can Remove the Burden from Your Loved Ones
What To Do After A Death In The Family

February

How to Prevent Family Fighting Over Mom’s Will or Trust
How Long Has It Been Since You’ve Updated Your Estate Plan?
How To Have Fun Planning Your Estate!
Have You Seen This Person?
Benefit Your Loved Ones by Bringing Life to Your Estate Plan
Dementia and Alzheimer’s: Is It Too Late For Mom Or Dad To Execute Legal Documents?
Divorced Couples Can Still Benefit from Joint Estate Planning
Is It Always In Your Best Interest To Accept An Inheritance?
5 Basic Tips for Trustees
Providing for Pets in Your Will or Trust
Will Medicare Provide for You in Your Golden Years?
A Difficult Decision: Choosing a Nursing Home for Yourself or Your Loved One
529 Plans Are Useful for College Tuition AND Estate Planning
You Can Help Your Child Become a Homeowner—But Do Your Research First

January

How to Ensure Your Valuable Antiques Don’t End Up in Someone’s Yard Sale
The Joys and Sorrows of Gift-Giving During Your Lifetime
Republican Primary Inspires Discussion of Trusts
The Bum Rap of Prenups: Why They Are More Romantic Than You Thought
The Other Side of “Putting Your Affairs in Order”
As Elder Population Grows, So Does Need for Awareness of Elder Abuse
The Family Vacation Home: A Place to Make Memories or Enemies?
What Will You Be Doing With This Year’s IRA Withdrawal?
Beware of Mistakes in Your Old Estate Plan
Women and Finances: Looking at Money from a Different Angle
A Woman’s Work Is Never Done
2012 Could be the Year You Start Your Own Business

2011

December

Don’t Forget the Final (And Crucial) Step to Setting Up Your Trust
3 Steps to Help Protect Your Family and Your Future in 2012
New Year’s Resolutions: Protecting Your Minor Children
New Year’s Resolutions: Taking Control of Your Health in 2012
New Year’s Resolutions: Achieving Your Financial Goals for 2012 and Beyond
Who Will Be Making Your Difficult Healthcare Decisions?
Friendly Reminder to Take Advantage of Tax Deductions Before Year’s End
Long Term Care Insurance Is Tax Deductible for Business Owners
Could A Trust Be Good For Your Family?
Nursing Home Etiquette to Remember During Holiday Visits
Speculation About the Estate of Steve Jobs Continues

November

The Smart Way to Leave an Inheritance to Unprepared Children
A Mother’s Thoughts on the Struggle Between Adult Children and Their Aging Parents
This Holiday Season an Estate Plan is the Perfect Gift
What To Do When You Discover That Mom or Dad Is Not Okay
Not All Families Are Warm and Happy—How to Disinherit a Family Member
How to Give Help to Family without Neglecting Your Own Financial Needs
NOW is the Time to Think About Long-Term Care
What Kind of Support Will You Have During Your Retirement?
5 Things To Discuss With Your Doctor On Your Next Visit
Estate Planning with a Chronic or Terminal Disease
Charitable Giving Through Legacy Planning

October

Planning for Death Can Be a Celebration of Life
Good News for Retirement Savings in 2012
Entrepreneurs, Family Business, and Estate Planning
There’s No Excuse for No Nomination of Guardians
Senior Citizens to Receive a Raise
When is the Best Time to Plan Your Estate?
Plan Ahead to Avoid Court-Ordered Conservatorship
Death of Steve Jobs Saddens the World
How to Cope After the Death of a Spouse
Facing the Challenges of Caregiving as a Family
The Pros and Cons of a Crummey Trust

September

When “Equal” is not Always “Fair”
Three Estate Planning Documents You Need During Your Lifetime
There’s More than One Way to Name IRA Beneficiaries
Is Planning for the Future Easier if You’re Single?
How Important Is Religion When Planning Your Estate?
How To Give An Inheritance To A Child Who Might Squander Or Abuse It
IRS Announces Another Extension for Estate Tax Filing Deadline
The Dangers of Joint Ownership As An Estate Planning Strategy
How Does Your State Rank on the Long-Term Care Scorecard?
Leaving an Inheritance to a Special Needs Child
Make Your Estate Plan a Masterpiece

August

An Inside Look at Retirement and Long-Term Care
Should Beneficiaries Also Serve as Executor or Trustee?
Are You Hurting Your Own Chances At Retirement?
Some Tax Saving Strategies from the Wall Street Journal
Don’t Let Tax Laws Limit Your Generosity
Executors of 2010 Estates Have Until Nov. 15 to Make Estate Tax Decisions
Unusual Things Happen Every Day…
New York Becomes 29th State to Pass Alert System for Vulnerable Adults Legislation
Don’t Inadvertently Disinherit Your Loved Ones—Review Your Estate Plan Regularly
The Estate Planning Post Every Woman Should Read
Off to College? Don’t Forget Your HIPAA!
Blended Families Require Special Estate Planning
Addressing the Growing Financial Concerns of Baby Boomers
Planning Your Estate Can Help Loved Ones Cope With Loss

July

Retirement Assets May Be Unpleasant Surprise for Heirs
After A Tempestuous Life Amy Winehouse Leaves Clear and Certain Will
Charitable Lead Trusts Can Benefit Your Heirs AND Your Favorite Charity
War Veterans May Be Unaware They Qualify For VA Aid and Attendance Benefits
How Should A Caregiving Relative Be Compensated?
QPRTs Offer A Chance to Have Your Cake and Eat It Too
The Best Laid (Estate) Plans...
As Priorities Change, So Does Your Estate Plan
Joint Ownership A Dangerous Way to Avoid Probate
Estate Planning Challenges (and Benefits) for Same-Sex Couples
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night

June

Veteran Journalist Shares Her Personal Experiences Entering the Medicare System
Frequently Asked Questions About Probate
New Tax Breaks Could Have Huge Benefits for Grandchildren
Make Financial Decisions a Family Activity
“Trouble” Helmsley Makes Headlines One Last Time
Estate Planning for Beginners Part 6: Funding
Estate Planning for Beginners Part 5: Guardians of Minor Children
Estate Planning for Beginners Part 4: Healthcare Documents
Estate Planning for Beginners Part 3: Powers of Attorney
Estate Planning for Beginners Part 2: Trusts
Estate Planning for Beginners Part 1: Wills
New Service Makes It Possible to Speak from Beyond the Grave

May

The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Retirement
Even the Most “Normal” Families Require Special Estate Planning Consideration
Take Advantage of Tax Law Changes and Give Grandkids a Head Start
Estate Tax Calculator May Provide a Peek into the Future
Retirement Planning Goes Back to its Roots
The Importance of Estate Planning for New Parents
How to Protect and Pass On Artwork, Antiques, and Other Valuable Assets
What to Do When Mom Can No Longer Manage Her Own Money
The Benefits of a Retirement Trust

April

How Successful CEOs Keep the Family Business in the Family
One Simple Step Now Can Save Time and Money Later
Memories Make Your Legacy About More Than Property Alone
New Criteria for Alzheimer’s Can Lead to Early Diagnosis, Better Treatment and Planning
Protecting Your Children with a Nomination of Guardians
New Portability Provision Should be Considered with Caution
When It Comes to Estate Plans, How Crazy is TOO Crazy?
5 Missteps That Can Sabotage Your Estate Plan
6 Things You Should Know About Your Healthcare Directive
Understanding Your Last Will and Testament
The Benefits (And Risks) of a Multi-Generational Household
Royal Couple Has Many Asking “How Effective Are Prenuptial Agreements?”

March

A Caregiver Agreement Provides Benefits for All
Icon, Businesswoman, Philanthropist—What Happens Now to Elizabeth Taylor’s Fortune?
Prenuptial Agreements Help Protect Your Assets AND Your Marriage
New POLST Program Raises Awareness About End-Of-Life Decisions
Frequently Asked Questions: Does Your Family Need a Trust?
Tragedy in Japan Inspires Reflection: Are You Prepared for Disaster?
6 Things to Have on Your First Visit with Your Estate Planning Attorney
A Way to Help Parents and Grandparents in Financial Need
Who Owns Credit Card Debt After the Death of a Parent?
Tough Decisions Await Executors of 2010 Estates
Coming in 2012: Change for Retirees

February

Where Should You Live to Escape the Estate Tax?
How a Special Needs Trust Can Help Your Child
The Tax-Man Cometh
A Will Reveals More About You Than Just Assets and Distribution
Estate Tax Laws Aren’t the Only Things That Change
Retirement Advice for EVERY Age
Long-Term Care; Be Prepared in an Area of Uncertain Options
Estate Tax Lessons from 2010 and Things to Watch Out for in 2011
Minnesota Health Care Dispute Raises Fears for Everyone

January

Planning to Make Your Life Extraordinary
It’s Never Too Early to Make Your First Will
Knowledge and Communication is Key to Avoiding Family Fights
5 Essential Tips for Executors or Trustees
Non-Traditional Couples Face Estate Planning Challenges
Making Plans for Aging at Home
Excuses, Excuses... Why You Don’t Have a Healthcare Directive
Government Rescinds Medicare Coverage of End-Of-Life Planning
No More Excuses, It’s Time To Plan Your Estate
A Low-Pressure (And Fun) Way to Discuss Legacy and Estate Planning
Resolutions to Last You Through the Year

2010

December

At Long Last: What to Expect from Estate Taxes in 2011
Estate Tax Update: The End Is Near
Adult Children and Elderly Parents: Caring for Each Other
Talking to Siblings About Caring for Mom and Dad
Make This Year Memorable: A 2010 Gift-Giving Guide
Are Misconceptions Keeping You From Planning for Retirement?
A Good Year for Giving

November

Estate Planning Through the Ages
How to Avoid Being “Strangers Rather Than Spouses”
Estate Planning for Adoptive Families
Make It Easy for Your Heirs to Say “No”
Family and Future: The Keys to Top Notch Estate Planning
The Ins and Outs of Incapacity
Preparing Boomers for the Finance Sandwich Squeeze
Estate Planning As A Multi-Generational Affair
Estate Planning Is Easier Than You Think
Facing the Future with Long Term Care
The Quiet Devastation of Alzheimer’s Disease

October

Just Say No? Medical Marijuana in Nursing Homes
How to Find the Best Long-Term Care Policy
“Nothing Says Romance More Than A Prenuptial Contract.”
Take Care in Making Large Gifts to Heirs
Plan Ahead to Avoid Financial Pitfalls in 2011
Can You Foolproof Your Power of Attorney?
What Is Probate?
Prepare Now for an Uncertain Future
What to Do With Your Estate Plan After a Divorce
10 Phone Calls to Make After the Death of a Loved One
Power of Attorney from the Agent’s Perspective
Executors and Agents: Choosing Your Own Replacement

September

What “The Cost of Aging” Means Today
How to Keep Your Children from Squandering Their Inheritance
Lapse in Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Makes Giving to Grandkids Easier Than Ever
Charitable Remainder Trusts: Philanthropy in Death Can Benefit You in Life
Help for Alzheimer’s Patients AND Their Caregivers
Those Who Hesitate Can Still Achieve the Liberation of Retirement
State Of Washington Takes Action Against Retailers of DIY Legal Documents
How to Prepare for Dismaying Changes to Estate Tax Law
Women and Retirement: Your Money, Your Future, Your Plan
Planning for the Future is Essential for Special Needs Families
How to Help Your Elderly Parents When You Live Far Away
You’re Never Too Young to Need a Financial Planner

August

Planning to Live Through the 2010 Estate Tax Repeal? You Can Still Save on Taxes
Caregiver Compensation Agreements Benefit Elders AND Caregivers
A Step-By-Step Guide to Getting Started With Your Estate Planning
Debunking 5 Common Estate Planning Myths
Women and Finances: How Estate Planning Can Help
Do Expected Changes to GRAT Legislation Affect YOUR Plans?
The REAL Reason to Plan Your Estate
Does Marriage Matter in Estate Planning?
Will Long-Term Care Living Arrangements Prevent You from Leaving an Inheritance?
What Matters Most When Choosing a Long-Term Care Living Situation?
Jane Austen’s Will: It Used to Be So Easy
You Know the Importance of Planning... But Do Your Aging Parents?
The Next Step In Elderly Home Care

July

Living on the Edge: Small Business Owners and Retirement
Not Just Estate Tax Anymore
The Comfort That Comes With Planning Ahead
Should You Pre-Plan Your Own Funeral?
Falling Through the Cracks
Estate Planning Advice for Ex-Pats and World Travelers
One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s... Heirloom?
Will Billionaire Steinbrenner’s Death Inspire Congress to Reinstate the Estate Tax?
How to Tell If Your Loved One Needs In-Home Care (And What to Do About It)
Is Medicare Headed for a Crisis?
Communication is Key: Talk to Your Doctor About Your End-Of-Life Wishes
Heirs Pay the Price for a Do-It-Yourself Estate Plan
No Estate Tax Means No Need to Plan, Right? . . . Wrong.

June

Should A Bank Help You Care for Your Elderly Parents?
How to Plan for the Future While Estate Tax Debate Continues in the Senate
“For Richer or For Poorer, Till Death Do Us Part” Includes Retirement
Can You Really Afford Long-Term Care Insurance?
The Estate Planning Needs of Women
It’s a Dog’s Life
More News About the Repealed Estate Tax
Options Abound With Out-of-State Trusts
How To Choose Your Executor or Personal Representative
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is June 15
Money and Marriage: How to Have a Successful Business Partnership with your Spouse
Ensure that Your Retirement Savings Goes to the Right People
How to Find the Perfect Senior Living Arrangement

May

Planning for the High Cost of Raising Your Child AND Your Family
Stay Current and You’ll Stay Protected
Back to Basics: Forethought and Planning Prevent a World of Hurt
Senate Considers Option to Prepay Estate Taxes
Harvard or Shady Oaks? How to Choose Your Financial Priorities
Stuck In The Middle: Caring For Aging Relatives
Prenups Help With Happily Ever After
Trade Like A Man, Save Like A Woman
Robin Hood Lives On: Tax Breaks to Help Your Family
Take Action in the Face of Estate Tax Uncertainty
Does the New Health Care Reform Affect Your Long Term Care Plan?
Recent Deaths Bring Home the Consequences of No Estate Tax in 2010

April

Family Feuds: Your Estate Plan Can Save Your Kids’ Relationship
A “Graying Trend” In Caregiving
Your Family Is One-Of-A-Kind; Your Estate Plan Should Be As Well
Sharing Your Passion With The People Who Matter
Help For Caregivers: 10 Steps Toward Taking Care of Yourself
Real Estate Investments Bring Real Long-Term Value to Families
Questions to Ask When Choosing a Guardian for Your Child
Tax Tips to Benefit YOUR Family
Will You Be Able To Afford Old Age?
Defining Probate
One More BIG Reason to Have a Health Care Directive

March

The Receiving End of Estate Planning
The Cold, Hard Truth
3 Reasons to Discuss Estate Planning With Your Ex
What Does the New Healthcare Legislation Mean for YOU?
How to Choose the Right Nursing Home
Estate Tax to Again Become an Issue in the House
Protecting Your Parents, Protecting Yourself
Sensible... Sentimental... Prenuptial Agreements?
Ensure Your Wishes for Medical Treatment are Followed: Share Them With Your Doctor
Do You Need A Will Or A Trust?
5 Ways to Enjoy Planning Your Estate
Filling in the Blanks of Your Estate Plan
Facing the BIG Picture

February

It’s Never Too Early to Start Thinking About Retirement
When and Why You Might Turn Down An Inheritance
The Not Quite Empty Nest Syndrome
10 Tips for Potential (or Existing) Trustees
News and Updates About the Estate Tax
Make Your Memoirs a Part of Your Legacy
Make your Estate Plan About Values
Handing Over the Keys to the Kingdom
The Family That Plans Together Saves Together
The Question of Competence
Living in a Digital World

January

What Does “Do Not Resuscitate” Mean to You?
Your Estate Is Ready For The Kids, But Are The Kids Ready For Your Estate?
The Importance of Being Earnest
Your Will May Be a Ticking Time Bomb
Where Can Seniors Find “Home Sweet Home”?
Another Kind of “Bucket List”
Will You Take Advantage of New Roth Rollover Rules?
Part of the Family: Planning for Pets
Keep Your Estate Safe in 2010
Who Cares About Medicare?
Making Your New Year’s Resolutions Stick

The Attorneys at Estate Plan Strategies, LLC assist clients with Estate Planning, Wills, Trusts, Revocable Trusts, Tax Planning, Asset Protection, Special Needs Planning, Charitable Giving, Probate and Estate Administration, Elder Law, Medicaid Planning, and Business Succession Planning in the metropolitan St.Louis, Missouri area. Areas we serve include Clayton, Chesterfield, Ballwin, Creve Coeur, Richmond Heights, Maryland Heights, Florissant, Hazelwood, Affton, Ladue, Fenton, University City, Sunset Hills in St. Louis County, St. Charles County, Jefferson County, Franklin County and Lincoln County.