Most of us are getting ready to submit federal and state income tax returns before the deadline. (Note: For 2016, the deadline has been moved from the 15th to the 18th due to a series of well-placed holidays.) But what are the chances the IRS will audit your tax return? Tax return audits are rare. According Read More 

Please join us for a complimentary and informative pre-planning seminar. Presented by Linnemann Funeral Homes and DBL Law. Discover how advanced planning can help your family prepare in case of emergency. By having your affairs in order beforehand, you can alleviate a lot of stress and anxiety for your loved ones, that is often times Read More 

Join us at Thomas More on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 29th at 4:00 PM for a complimentary Estate Planning Seminar. Topics discussed will include Wills, Powers of Attorney, Trusts, Taxes, Insurance and more. The presenters will be DBL’s Jim Dressman, Managing Partner and Paul Sartori, Managing Principal at Legacy Financial Advisors. The seminar will Read More 

The previous position of the IRS with respect to indirect rollovers changed late last year effective January 1, 2015. An IRA “rollover” is when you withdraw cash or other assets from an eligible retirement plan and contribute all or part of it to another eligible retirement plan. Under federal tax laws, an “indirect rollover” occurs Read More 

Mark Twain said that “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.” Those who are most prepared have a good estate plan in place. It is never to early to make such a plan. Death is not a subject most, if Read More 

Do you have a written estate plan? If you do not have a written estate plan, including a will, power of attorney, and a healthcare surrogate designation/living will directive, now is the time to create one. If you have a written plan, perhaps it’s time for a review.

As the April 15 tax filing deadline approaches, it may be a good time to review your estate plan. If you do not have a written estate plan, including a will, power of attorney, and a healthcare surrogate designation/living will directive, now is the time to create one.

For most, having a will and other estate planning documents is a chore which no one enjoys. Once completed, there is a feeling of great satisfaction in completing the arduous task and the documents are placed in a special place for safe keeping and soon forgotten.

Are you the beneficiary of a trust from which you would like to receive more income? If so, there is a statute that may help you reach that goal.

The estate planning documents that a lawyer may prepare, such as a will or trust agreement, are but one step in an estate plan. The next step is to ensure that beneficiary designations on certain assets are designed in a way to allow the estate plan to operate as intended. This requires that you or Read More 

Dying without an estate plan lets the state determine the disposition of your property. At that point, it’s too late for you to help your heirs. For their sake, don’t let that happen to you. Everyone needs an estate plan. The term “estate plan” is often misunderstood as referring to a complex set of legal Read More 

Hard working people, young and old alike, are often so busy with everyday life that they never get around to some of the basic legal documents that every adult should have in place. Those documents are a will, a healthcare power of attorney, and a durable business power of attorney. Each has a special function Read More 

In August, 2006 Congress passed the Pension Protection Act, included in which is a potentially very beneficial, but little known, section that permits “nonspouse” beneficiaries (NSB) of retirement plan participants who die after 2006 to roll over the retirement plan death benefit to a special Inherited Individual Retirement Account (IIRA).  The NSB is any beneficiary Read More 

Here’s a real-life scenario to ponder.  Your mother has passed away of a rare cancer.  You find yourself the executor of her estate.  Your mother’s marriage to your step-father did not thrive, but she and your step-father never divorced.  Upon your mother’s death, you discover she wrote your step-father out of her will.  You and your siblings were never close to Read More