09 February

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Charitable Giving With Your Estate Plan

If you wish to leave some of your estate to charitable institutions, then a gift from your retirement accounts can have tremendous advantages. There are many ways to benefit your favorite charity both now and at your death. If these charitable gifts are done properly, you can receive tax advantages now, and save your heirs taxes later. 1. Distributing Appreciated Assets with a Low Basis Did you buy stock or other assets at a low price? Do you own stock that has increased in value with no way to trace what was your original purchase price? Giving stock and other highly appreciated...

26 October

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A Personal Look at the Estate Planning Journey

Posted by Libby Banks

in Estate Planning, Wills & Trusts

The past year was amazing for my family. Two notable highlights are starting a new job with the Law Office of Libby Banks and my wife and I welcoming our first child in July. As I reflect on the need to update my Trust to plan for our new baby, I look back at my original experience creating an estate plan with Libby and why I joined her firm as an associate attorney. When I first thought about estate planning for myself and my wife, I realized I did not know much more than what I learned in law school. I...

29 August

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Asset Protection for Your Heirs

Posted by Libby Banks

in Asset Protection, Avoid Probate, Estate Planning, Protective Trusts, Revocable Living Trust, Wills & Trusts

I am often asked whether the revocable living trust we use as the cornerstone of our estate plans provides asset protection – protection from the creditors of the person creating the trust. The answer is no. While the revocable trust is a great estate planning and probate avoidance tool, it is not an asset protection trust. When you create this trust, you still have full control over the assets in the trust. Because of this, the law recognizes that they are your assets, and your creditors can get to them in the same way as if they were in your...

08 August

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Estate Planning – Who Needs It?

Posted by Libby Banks

in Asset Protection, Avoid Probate, Estate Planning, Power Of Attorney, Revocable Living Trust, Wills & Trusts

Who Needs Estate Planning? Many people, when they hear the words “estate planning,” don’t think it applies to them. “I don’t have an estate to plan!” they may say. I think this comes about from the use of the word “estate.” The word is often used to refer to the mansions and real estate holdings of the rich and famous. But the definition of an estate is “all of the things that a person owns.” In other words, your estate is the sum of your stuff: your home, your bank accounts, your stocks and bonds, your retirement account, your cars and boat, and...

20 April

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On the Road Again! Are you Ready for Vacation?

Posted by Libby Banks

in Estate Planning

For many of us, we are finally getting an opportunity to travel again, and we are more than ready! However, are you truly ready for that trip? One item you may have forgotten is to check on whether your estate plan is in order before you hit the road. Here are some thoughts on getting things done before your trip. 1. Make sure you have guardians in place for minor children. If you have minor children, it’s crucial to have documents in place appointing guardians, especially if you are traveling without them. Don’t leave this to chance, or worse, to the court...

18 March

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Using an Estate Planning Attorney is a Good Plan

Posted by Libby Banks

in Estate Planning

As an estate planning attorney, I often get calls from people who’ve used online trust or will planning software or gone to a cheap trust mill to put their plan together. Sometimes, they go to their brother-in-law, the corporate lawyer, who uses a form he found in a book to put the plan together. When I’m asked about whether these are good ideas, I like to tell a story about my dear husband. My husband Andy is a great handyman. It’s wonderful that I can ask him to fix things around the house and know he will do it right. When...

03 January

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Estate Planning Basics On The Money Maps Podcast

Posted by Libby Banks

in Estate Planning, News & Events

Libby Banks, with the Law Office of Libby Banks, was recently interviewed on The Money Maps Podcast. Check out the interview with tons of great estate planning tips here: https://wealthavenue.us/money-maps-podcast-episode-34.php...

01 August

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Estate Planning – Who Needs It?

Posted by Libby Banks

in Asset Protection, Avoid Probate, Estate Planning, Power Of Attorney, Revocable Living Trust, Wills & Trusts

01 July

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On The Road Again! Are You Ready for Vacation?

Posted by Libby Banks

in Asset Protection, Avoid Probate, Estate Planning, Power Of Attorney, Revocable Living Trust, Wills & Trusts

For many of us, it’s an exciting time. A whole year of isolation is coming to an end and travel is on the horizon. But are you truly ready for that trip? You may need to be sure your estate plan is in order before you hit the road. Here are some thoughts on getting things done before your trip. 1. Make sure you have guardians in place for minor children. If you have minor children, it’s crucial to have documents in place appointing guardians, especially if you are traveling without them. Don’t leave this to chance, or worse, to the...

21 April

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Pets, Trusts, And Your Estate Planning

Posted by Libby Banks

in Estate Planning, Pet Trusts, Wills & Trusts

Those of us with pets consider them members of our family. And like the rest of the family, we want to make sure they are taken care of when we can no longer do the job! The wealthy sometimes go to the extreme to provide for their pets. Leona Helmsley is one of the most famous examples, having left her entire $12 Million fortune to Trouble, her dog. The family sued, and the judge whittled Trouble’s share down to $2 Million. The widow of the Star Trek creator left $4 Million for their dogs, and $1 Million for the employee to...

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