Estate Planning Newsletter

Omaha, Nebraska Estate Planning • E Trustee Counselor

For your convenience, you may access the current and past issues of our estate planning newsletter online:

• Majoring in Minors (May 12)
  Most Parents expend considerable time and treasure to provide for their minor children. But not all parents live to see their children enter adulthood. Our first article reviews key considerations to provide for your children in a world without you.
• Adult Education (April 12)
  By and large, Americans are a rather independent lot. Our first article reviews some fundamental threats to our personal independence in the context of young adult Americans. You will want to share this article with the young adults in your life.
• Facing Facts (March 12)
  It can be difficult to ponder our own mortality. That is just our human nature. Nevertheless, the clock is ticking for each of us. Our first article highlights some critical issues we all need to address while there is still time to make proper financial and legal plans.
• Generational Generosity (Feb 12)
  Would you prefer to transfer more wealth to your family instead of the IRS? Our first article summarizes the relevant lifetime gifting rules and considers two common do-it-yourself transfer methods.
• Five Estate Blunders (Jan 12)
  Proper estate planning is not just for the rich and famous. Surprisingly, however, that is a common misconception. Every adult American has an estate worth planning, regardless of their net worth. In this article we review some critical concerns and plans.
• Family Limited Partnerships (Dec 11)
  Family Limited Partnerships offer many benefits, both tax and non-tax. Our first article is a primer that explores why they are at once a taxpayer favorite ... and a potential target of the IRS and some courts.
• Seasonal Solutions (Nov 11)
  To everything there is a season. So it is with your Life & Estate Plan. Our first article uses a Seasons of Life theme to illustrate how your Life & Estate Plan may change with your personal and financial circumstances over your lifetime.
• Cohabitation Complexities (Oct 11)
  Like their married counterparts, unmarried cohabitants need to make appropriate Life & Estate Plans to avoid especially unpleasant and expensive surprises. Our first article reviews common challenges in the context of some real-life scenarios.
• Marital Matters (Sept 11)
  This month we focus on making proper estate plans to avoid common legal and financial challenges in your marriage. Meeting these challenges will help you honor the vows you made on your wedding day to care for one another.
• Admirable Administration (Aug 11)
  Have you appointed trusted family members, friends or professionals to serve as the fiduciaries of your estate plan upon your death? If so, our first article is a must-read as we review some of the responsibilities (and liabilities) they will face.
• Blended Family Basics (Jul 11)
  Is yours a blended family? If yes, then you face unique inheritance challenges, to include disinheriting your ex-spouse, providing for your new spouse and your own children, and protecting their inheritance. Keep this newsletter (and share it with others).
• Women: Law & Money (Jun 11)
  Are you a woman or do you know someone who is? If so, then you will want to read and share this issue of our newsletter. The first article reviews some important Estate Essentials and Money Matters every woman should address without delay.

Wealth Transfer Planning...and related issues
By Rodney A. Halstead (previously published in The Country Lanes Magazine)

• The Cost of Wealth Transfer at Death: A Study of Probate in Douglas County, Nebraska (PDF)
• A Trust for Your Pet
• Should You Have Advanced Directives?
• All Trusts Are Not the Same

Omaha Estate Planning Attorneys Stephen Schmidt and Rodney Halstead serve clients in Omaha, Nebraska as well as the surrounding cities of Fremont, Millard, Gretna, Elkhorn, LaVista (La Vista), Bellevue, Papillion and Ralston. Please feel free to contact the office if you or a family member is in need legal assistance with Nebraska Probate and Estates, Nebraska Estate Planning and Asset Protection, Nebraska Elder Law, Nebraska Trust Planning, Nebraska Tax Planning, Nebraska Medicaid Planning, Nebraska Wealth Transfer Planning, Nebraska Business Succession and Planning or Nebraska Fiduciary Services.

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