Category Archives: Estate Planning

Increase in Audits of Estate Tax Returns

Posted on May 16, 2013 by Roger Billings

Be careful when signing the federal 706 Estate Tax return. According to Frank Byrt of Accounting Web: The IRS scrutinized estate tax returns more than any category of individual tax returns in tax year 2011, at close to a 30 … Continue reading →






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You’re Named in Power of Attorney – How Do You Sign Documents?

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Roger Billings

  A power of attorney gives one person responsibility for the other person’s finances. The responsible party is known as the attorney-in-fact. How should the attorney-in-fact sign documents (checks for example) on behalf of the principal? The safest answer is … Continue reading →






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Obama Still Trying to Overhaul Estate Tax

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Roger Billings

Yesterday, April 10, President Obama released a 2014 budget proposal in which he seeks to overhaul the estate tax, yet again. According to Bloomberg Businessweek: Obama’s budget would drop the per-person exemption from estate taxes to $3.5 million from $5.25 … Continue reading →






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Who Needs An Advance Health Care Directive? — Estate Planning Basics

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Roger Billings

As people live longer, the chances of experiencing incapacity increase, and the advance health care directive becomes ever more crucial in avoiding disputes and providing a peaceful transition for end-of-life situations. It is often asked, why do I need an … Continue reading →






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A Facebook Billionaire in Singapore, and Estate Taxes

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Roger Billings

One popular version of the American dream is the opportunity to go to a great university, graduate, work hard, get rich and retire. The “Facebook” entrepreneurs, Mark Zuckerberg’s collaborators, have turned this dream on its head. Go to college, meet … Continue reading →






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Dick Clark Left a Fortune

Posted on April 19, 2012 by Roger Billings

Sound business decisions  made it possible for Dick Clark to amass a huge fortune. Did he also leave a sound estate plan? Will there also be a huge estate tax bill? We’ll keep you posted. Meanwhile, here is some more info … Continue reading →






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Leading Cause of Estate Planning Paralysis is Choosing Guardian

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Roger Billings

  Arden Dale of The Wall Street Journal provides suggestions for overcoming the paralysis arising from the anxiety of choosing a guardian for minor children: Many parents drag their feet for fear of picking the wrong person. Advisers say they … Continue reading →






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