» Estate Planning

The Wrong Successor Trustee Can Derail Your Final Wishes Many estate plans contain revocable living trusts that will become irrevocable (cannot be easily changed or terminated) when the trustmaker dies. Such trusts may benefit the surviving spouse du… Read More

5 Reasons Uncle Bill May Not Make a Good Trustee If you have created a trust that you intend to last for decades, choosing the right trustee is critical to ensuring the trust’s longevity and ultimate success. Initially, you may think that a family… Read More

Where Is the Best Place to Store Your Original Estate Planning Documents? Estate planning attorneys are often asked where original estate planning documents—wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives—should be stored for safekee… Read More

Is It Time for an Annual Planning Retreat? Do you ever feel like you never have a moment to yourself? Or that even if you manage to carve out some personal time, you are not spending it as effectively as you could be? Our always-on culture may counte… Read More

It’s Planning Season To have a successful farm, thoughtful planning must be done every season. Your life is no different. To properly prepare for the next season in your life and the lives of your loved ones, you need a well-executed estate plan. W… Read More

Have a Harmonious Family that Does Not Fight? You Still Need an Estate Plan In many families, everyone gets along, happily gathering for the holidays, sharing laughs, telling stories, and enjoying each other’s company. Then, the matriarch or patria… Read More

Farmer’s Guide to Machinery Depreciation, Stepped-Up Basis, and How Smart Planning Can Save Taxes on Farm Equipment Farmers know the value of depreciation when it comes to reducing their tax burden year to year. Bonus depreciation and Section 179 d… Read More

Farm Equipment Loans and Liens: The Hidden Threat in Your Estate Plan If you’re like most farmers, your equipment isn’t just sitting in the shed debt-free. Tractors, combines, and other essential machinery often carry liens, loans, or are wrapped… Read More