Entries by Actualize

Pulling the Plug

Have you seen the George Clooney movie “The Descendants?” George’s wife is in a coma after a boating accident. There is a poignant scene where the family reviews her Living Will document. The family relies upon that document to “pull the plug.” Living Wills Living Wills include written, legal instructions that state the treatment you […]

Estate Tax and the One Big Beautiful Bill

Signed into law by President Trump in July 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act brings sweeping changes to federal estate tax law. It’s a game-changer for individuals and families thinking about how to pass on wealth, offering clarity, certainty, and opportunities for estate planning. For those of greater means, this bill represents millions in […]

When Trust is Broken: Elder Abuse Within Families

Families sometimes steal from one another. Too often, the scenario involves an aging — perhaps cognitively impaired — person who relies on a close relative for support. This year, I encountered such a case involving a longtime client. Her child, the person she depended on most, placed her in a care facility, sold her home, […]

Where’s Your Will?

What do Chadwick Boseman, Norm MacDonald, Bob Saget, and Gilbert Gottfried have in common? They all died without a will. The situation is common but the consequences require a bit of analysis. According to the Gallup polls, less than half of Americans have a will. A person who dies without a will is intestate. Intestacy […]

Rupert Murdoch’s Trust Issues

The HBO program, Succession, echoed in a Nevada courtroom recently. The cable program imagined the machinations of a powerful media family, both craven and conservative. In real life, the succession of Rupert Murdoch, owner of News Corp. and Fox Corporation, was set when Murdoch transferred controlling ownership to an irrevocable trust. Since Murdoch’s retirement and […]

Estate Tax Changes Ahead: What You Need to Know

The current lifetime gift and estate tax exemption increases to $13.99 million per person ($27.98 million for married couples). However, this exemption will expire at the end of 2025. If no new law is passed, the exemption will drop to approximately $7 million per person ($14 million for married couples), leading to higher estate tax […]

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