Month: July 2013

James Gandolfini’s Estate Tax Debacle

James Gandolfini, the actor best known for playing Mafia boss Tony Soprano in the TV show “The Sopranos,” died on June 19, 2013 while on vacation in Italy. He was 51. Gandolfini left a will, but thanks to poor planning and drafting, the IRS will be the biggest beneficiary of his estate. With an estate… Read More

Wills must be in writing: how about on a computer?

Every one of the 50 states and the District of Columbia have statutes that provide that a will must be in writing. Most of them say it must be signed “at the end”, and many of them require two or three witnesses. Nevada has a ground-breaking statute that permits digital wills, but apparently the software… Read More

Recent Changes to PEF Code – Small Estates

The Governor signed a new piece of legislation amending the Probate, Estates and Fiduciaries (PEF) Code on July 1, 2013.  See the statute Small Est 50K.pdf. The new statute amends §3101 of the PEF Code allowing a bank, or other financial institution, to pay up to $10,000 directly to a spouse, child, father, mother, sister… Read More

PBI Solo & Small Firm Conference Thur. & Fri, August 1-2, 2013

Strategic solutions for solo to mid-size firms.  Omni Bedford Springs Resort. I will be presenting on “Tax Aspects of the Healthcare Act” and “Probate and Estate Administration for the Solo / Small Practitioner.” Check out the brochure:  Solo-Small-Firm-Conference-2013-final.pdf. Hope to see you there!

Unconstitutionality of DOMA raises More Questions than it Answers

The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996, prevented same-sex couples whose marriages were recognized by their home state from receiving benefits available to other married couples under federal law. U.S. v. Windsor  is the Supreme Court Case that held last week that Section 3 of DOMA was… Read More