Estate Tax Advice Lawyer Philadelphia
Estate planning and estate taxes can be complicated; this is why you need the help of an estate tax advice lawyer Philadelphia, PA residents can rely on from Klenk Law. You may not realize the importance of estate planning and how it can help with taxes. However, when you plan your estate properly, it can help you avoid major stressors like probate and minimize the amount of estate taxes you owe or eliminate these taxes.
If you already have an estate plan in place or considering putting an estate plan in place, it is best to speak with an attorney who can guide you through the process and help you create a plan that makes the most sense for you. Call our office now. About Estate Planning
Documents commonly in an estate plan include a durable power of attorney, advance health care directive, revocable living trust, list of assets and beneficiaries, and more. Following guidance from an Estate Tax Advice Lawyer, a Philadelphia lawyer can help you avoid mistakes or forgetting details when establishing your estate plan. We encourage our clients to review their estate plan every five years or so or when there is a major life change. Here are just a few things to keep in mind when writing your estate plan.
When writing your estate plan, you must take an inventory of all the items you own. This includes tangible and intangible property. This may sound like a big task, and it may take some time to complete. However, by doing so, you are taking important steps towards planning a future for yourself and the legacy you will leave behind with loved ones. Items on this inventory list can include:
Your main home, vacation houses, rental properties, etc.
Obtain statements regarding your bank accounts, investment accounts, annuities, retirement accounts, and insurance policies.
Such as jewelry, collectibles, art, or anything else you want specifically passed down to someone else.
A Philadelphia, PA estate tax advice lawyer can meet with you to discuss the process of creating an estate plan and what your wishes are for the future. We can assist you as you create essential documents to see that your items are passed down to loved ones as you so wish. Two of the main documents often included in an estate plan is a will and trust. A will describes how you want assets to be distributed to dependents and beneficiaries in the event of your passing.
To make your will as strong and legally-binding as possible, it must be appropriately signed by you and signed by a witness.
A trust allows you to pick someone who will manage your assets. You can also dictate when and how the trustee will release these assets when the time comes. This may sound quite similar to a will. However, a trust won’t succumb to the probate process, which can be long and grueling for loved ones. This means that your beneficiaries or charities will receive a portion of your assets more quickly. Furthermore, these assets are not taxed like they would be if it went through probate. There are various types of trusts, so choosing the right one is crucial.
Turning to a reputable lawyer when writing your estate plan is strongly recommended.
As the saying goes, the only things we are guaranteed in this life are death and taxes. Unfortunately, these two things go together. When you have estate taxes, it means that your estate owes certain taxes and must pay certain taxes once you pass away. Depending on how much your estate is worth, the estate tax rate could be a whopping 40%. This is not the number you want. Estate Tax Advice Lawyer Philadelphia can help.
What are gift taxes?
Gift taxes, on the other hand, are taxes that are paid on gifts. This means that when assets or property are transferred from the estate owner to another party while the estate owner is still alive, taxes can be imposed. Again, not everyone will owe gift taxes. Typically if you come under a certain giving threshold, this is not something you will need to be concerned about.
What should I do if I am in jeopardy of hitting the threshold for these taxes?
The first thing you should do is seek guidance from a lawyer. Indeed, these estate taxes often miss people because their estate is not worth as much as the threshold. Your attorney can give you guidance and advice on how best to proceed.
Tax laws are never simple, and, unfortunately, they are always changing. This makes it incredibly hard to know what to do on your own. This is why it is helpful to speak with a tax advice attorney. Your Estate Tax Advice Lawyer Philadelphia can help minimize your taxes.
Want to learn more about minimizing or avoiding taxes regarding your estate? Contact a trusted estate tax advice lawyer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from Klenk Law now.
Peter Klenk is the founding member of Klenk Law, a seven attorney boutique estate planning law firm. We serve clients in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Minnesota and Florida. Peter Klenk received his Masters in Taxation LL.M. from NYU Law School and his J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School. He served his country in the Navy JAGC during Desert Storm. Easy to talk to, feel free to call Peter for an appointment. We will make the process as easy as possible!
"I worked for Peter Klenk for 4 wonderful years. I can’t speak highly enough of everyone at the firm. Everyone truly cares about their clients and has a strong sense of responsibility to get things done right. I would highly recommend Klenk Law!"
Flora Novick
Peters' firm has prepared and updated our Wills and Trusts for the last 15 to 20 years. They know the law and help with your decision making to use the law to your best advantage. Response time to your requests is very reasonable, and final reviews and signing is executed in a timely manor with a thorough coverage of the documents. Our most recent updates to our Wills & Trusts were somewhat complicated, in our opinion, but Peter and his staff handled them effortlessly. As you can tell from this review Peter Klenk's firm is top notch.
Jackie is amazing! I have asked her many questions and she answers them professionally and honestly. She is very informative !!!
I highly recommend this firm. Jackie was a pleasure to work with. I left there’s well educated and had all my questions answered.
Very friendly and easy to work with - definitely a better experience than I've had with other lawyers! Peter is very detailed and thorough. I've worked on previous versions of my will with other lawyers, and he pointed out things they'd never mentioned. Fast turnaround and very responsive to emails and phone calls.
I have worked with three different attorneys and law firms over the years, and I can confidently say that attorney Peter Klenk stands out as the most knowledgeable. He created the most thorough wills and trust documents I've ever had. Mr. Klenk took the time to gather all the necessary details about my current situation and goals. As a result, he put together comprehensive documents that I believe will effectively protect my assets and ensure my children's inheritance is secure.
What truly sets Mr. Klenk apart is his patience and dedication to understanding my questions. He provided detailed explanations that made complex legal concepts much easier to grasp. His team's communication and scheduling were equally impressive, making the entire process smooth and stress-free.
Thank you, Mr. Klenk, and your fantastic team, for your exceptional service!
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