Phoenix high net worth couple on their second marriage engaged DeAngelis Legal to update their estate plan prepared by another prominent estate planning law firm. In addition to incorporating their changes, DeAngelis Legal reviewed their current plan, updated the language and eliminated ambiguous and sometime conflicting provisions between documents. DeAngelis Legal also worked with their [...]
Connelly and Buy-Sell Agreements – Is it time for a new strategy? On June 6, 2024, the Supreme Court of the United States decided the case of Connelly v. United States, 144 S. Ct. 1406. The Connelly decision significantly impacts business succession planning using buy-sell agreements funded with life insurance. The Court (i) disregarded the valuation [...]
Two more informal probates. In two separate matters, the decedent had a valid and enforceable revocable trust. As we see time and time again, the decedent's transferred a majority of their assets to their trust, but failed to transfer a few of them, thus requiring the survivors to open probate. DeAngelis Legal prepared and filed [...]
Estate Planning Update July 2024 2024 Annual Gift Tax Exclusion: increased to $18,000 per donor, per donee. 2024 Gift and Estate Tax Exemption: increased to $13,610,000 per donor through 2025 (an increase of $690,000). See paragraph 6 below. Marital Deduction for Transfers to U.S. Spouse: remains unlimited. 2024 Generation Skipping Tax Exemption: increased to $13,610,000 [...]
Surviving spouse was surprised to learn that the revocable trust created by the couple 10+ years ago became irrevocable upon the 1st spouse’s death. In addition, the trust split the couple’s assets and allocated half to a trust where the surviving spouse only had limited rights to the assets. After reviewing the survivor’s alternatives, DeAngelis [...]
Represented couple with the preparation of a comprehensive review and update of their estate plan. Both spouses in this second marriage had children from their prior marriages and maintained both separate and combined finances. DeAngelis Legal identified significant issues, including estate tax implications and inequities in their proposed structure, proposed potential solutions and drafted the [...]
“Grandpa in the Garden” Under Arizona’s new “Grandpa in the Garden” bill, human remains may be turned into fertile soil that can be used in a loved one’s backyard or garden instead of traditional burial or cremation. The process is said to be cheaper than traditional burial or cremation methods and takes around 45 days [...]
In two separate matters, a new client’s spouse unexpectedly died, leaving behind a will and trust that was outdated and adversely impacted the surviving spouse upon the death of the first spouse. In both instances, the decedent failed to review or update their estate plan with legal counsel. DeAngelis Legal discussed potential solutions with the [...]
Spring training was back in full swing this year, which meant agents were working hard and players were setting up their entities to hold endorsement deals and updating their estate plans before the season started. DeAngelis Legal created several new entities for players to assist them with managing their endorsements and drafted new estate plans [...]
Ultra high net worth Chandler couple asked for a review of their estate plan and associated estate taxes. DeAngelis Legal performed a comprehensive review of their finances and estate plan, including financial statements, trusts, and beneficiary designations on retirement accounts and life insurance. DeAngelis Legal identified several options for reducing their estate tax obligations by [...]
