Author Archives: Aaron

Dallas attorney Aaron R. Miller’s professional background began with a successful career in corporate litigation, representing large companies in cases involving multi-million dollar disputes. What gave him the most professional satisfaction was helping people with whom he had developed personal relationships. A skilled attorney with a passion for many aspects of law, Aaron nonetheless found himself at a crossroads when he realized that with many years of practice in front of him, he did not want to continue a career involving such combative work. The Personal Family Lawyer® program was the perfect solution. The focus of Miller Law Firm, PLLC shifted from representing individuals and small businesses in legal disputes over business matters in both trial and appellate courts to estate planning, giving Aaron the opportunity to protect individuals and have a positive, direct effect in their lives. But rather than having a traditional estate planning practice, which is focused on transactions (such as the drawing up of wills and other documents), Aaron was drawn to the relational focus of the Personal Family Lawyer® program – having on-going contact with clients over the long-term, helping clients to protect themselves and their families by using such tools as the Kid’s Protection Plan™, helping them pass on more than just financial wealth with the Priceless Conversation™, and being the first person the client calls when they have a question or a change of circumstances. Aaron is one of only 70 lawyers to earn the designation of Personal Family Lawyer® by the Family Wealth Planning Institute, a national organization dedicated to providing affordable access to a lifetime relationship with a personal lawyer. As a Personal Family Lawyer®, Aaron only charges flat fees for his work and those fees are always agreed to in advance so there are never any surprises or fear about what anything will cost. Aaron offers his clients a unique membership program so they can call him on an ongoing basis to answer questions, address concerns, and explain legal jargon, without fear of incurring further expenses. It’s like having a lawyer in the family, without the drama, dysfunction, or judgment. Aaron’s clients love to know they have developed a lasting relationship with their personal lawyer, who they can turn to for objective trusted guidance before making any important family, business or financial decisions.

How to ensure the RIGHT kind of long-term care

Written on April 15, 2010 by in E-zine
0 Comments - Leave a comment!

This e-zine was originally sent on March 1, 2010.  It may have been edited somewhat from the version that was originally emailed, so be sure to sign up to make sure you are getting our e-zines fresh!

“Old times never come back and I suppose it’s just as well.  What comes back is a new morning every day in the year, and that’s better.”

- George Edward Woodberry

Hello,

I’m not sure why it is, but time has really been flying by for me lately.  It seems like before I know it, I look up and the day, week, and month are gone.  It probably isn’t just me, I’ll bet.

Well, last weekend was spent at the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas with my oldest daughter (and later my second) waiting for her history fair project to be judged at the regional competition.  She didn’t place, but she and her project partner got to hang out with her friends, and I got to look at a bunch of airplanes and a space module.  I’ve never been there before and it is really a neat museum.  And if you like that sort of thing, the Cavanaugh Flight Museum near Addison airport is also a ton of fun.

Since the Olympics have been on, I’ve tried to make sure we watch a little bit with the girls.  They don’t go much for watching sports generally, but I’m trying to make sure they see some sports that they may not have known existed (curling?).  Who knows what will spark there interest.

One thing I really enjoy are the stories that go with the Olympics – from the drama between Apollo Ohno and the South Koreans, to the hockey upset in the game between the US and Canada, to the Canadian figure skater that recently lost her mom and skated anyway and did fantastic.  The dedication and drive that these athletes have is phenomenal.

I ran across this about the American skier Lindsey Vonn.  She’s known as perhaps the world’s top female skier having dominated the World Cup the last couple years–but she entered these Olympics with a serious shin injury which left many to wonder if she could even compete.  Take a look at the video of her run and the sheer explosion of joy when she saw her time.  It is awesome.  Watch it here: http://bit.ly/bQAVvC

This week I’d like to talk about something a little different.  For far too many people, the “story” of their lives doesn’t end as well as they might have hoped. Care facilities (when they’re necessary) can be a blessing…or they can be a nightmare. So, to help you make sure that your family (and your friends’ families) make the best decision possible, I’ve put together a two-part series on nursing home placement–and how to do it right.

Feel free to forward this along to anyone who may be affected by these issues. We’re always here to help!

Aaron Miller’s

“Straight Talk” Personal Strategy

Making Nursing Home Placements That Work (Part 1)

It’s a fact: most nursing home admissions happen under extremely stressful circumstances.

It’s an overwhelming task, to find the best nursing home placement for a loved one, perhaps because, where do you even begin?

But, although this is a job that no one wants, it can be done with forethought and confidence that the best decision was made for everyone involved. It’s easier (and better for your loved one), if that first placement is well thought out. Yes–a nursing home resident can be moved from one facility to another, but this type of disruption is rarely in everyone’s best interest as it can be disturbing on a variety of levels.

So it’s best to do it right–from the beginning.

Here’s a great place to start your search:

The Federal Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has a part of its Web site called “Nursing Home Compare”.  Surprisingly, for a government service, it’s actually quite handy:

http://www.medicare.gov/NHCompare

This area identifies facilities that have a history of poor performance–and ones which do well. In fact, the Nursing Home Compare site labels nursing homes it calls “Special Focus Facilities” — those that have repeatedly violated state and federal health and safety rules and that rank in the worst 5 to 10 percent of all inspected facilities in a given state.

You’ll want to cross those off your list from the very beginning.

Using this website, you can see detailed inspection information about each nursing facility that interests you, comparing various government-rated “quality measures” such as:

• Percent of High-Risk Residents Who Have Pressure Sores

• Percent of Residents Who Spend Most of Their Time in Bed or in a Chair

• Percent of Residents Who Have Moderate to Severe Pain

• Percent of Residents Who Were Physically Restrained

Et cetera.

The site also rates the care and services that each facility provides to its residents, and allows you to view how each facility stacks up in staffing hours for each type of health care worker against the state and national averages.

And there’s other comparison tools available. For example, U.S. News and World Report has recently started providing rankings of America’s nursing homes.

http://health.usnews.com/sections/health/best-nursing-homes/index.html

These rankings rely on the data from the above, government site–but they DO provide some advanced search engine capability. Nursing homes are presented in tiers within each star category, based on their total stars in all three of the major areas. The topmost tier, for example, consists only of five-star homes that got 15 stars. The next tier down is five-star homes with 14 total stars, and so on.

Within each tier, nursing homes are listed alphabetically. If you’re looking for a nursing home by location, and turn up too many, search terms can be combined in order to narrow the results.  For example, perhaps you want to search just for nursing homes that have a religious affiliation, or that accept Medicaid residents. Or you can launch a multipronged search, perhaps searching for non-profit four-star nursing homes that accept Medicaid and are located within 25 miles of a particular city.

Placing your loved one in a nursing home that accepts Medicaid is vitally important if you plan to use the services of a law firm to help you with Medicaid Asset Protection.

Another free Web site that lets you compare nursing homes is www.MemberoftheFamily.net, which features easy-to-read, color-coded assessments of nursing homes nationwide.

However–here’s my big caveat when it comes to just looking at ratings : Nothing can substitute for visiting a nursing home in person. After all, every nursing home will have some deficiencies; working with extremely disabled and impaired persons is very difficult.

So, to find the best possible nursing home for your family’s situation, the first step is to determine what is most important for your family in looking for a facility. And I hope that you would agree that the potential resident’s needs and desires must be included in this evaluation. Consider variables such as location of the facility, whether a special care unit (such as for dementia) is available, and what types of payment sources are accepted.

The second step is to identify the facilities in your area which meet the criteria you have established.

In my next Note, I’ll give you some pointers on how to conduct an onsite tour properly–what to look for, questions to ask, etc.

And, of course, we’re here to help. Give us a call if we can serve you in any way!

To your family’s wealth, health, and happiness!

Aaron Miller

Miller Law Firm, PLLC
Your Life Is Our Life’s Work!
101 E. Park Blvd., Suite 600
Plano, Texas 75074
Connect via: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

PS–If you are receiving this and are NOT a subscriber to our weekly “Straight Talk” Personal Strategy Email series, click here to sign up.

To ensure we don’t make the folks at the IRS ornery, we inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein. This message may contain confidential and/or privileged information. If you are not the addressee or authorized to receive this for the addressee, you must not use, copy, disclose, or take any action based on this message or any information herein. If you have received this message in error, please advise the sender immediately by reply e-mail and delete this message. PHEW!

Do you have these 5 essential documents?

Written on April 8, 2010 by in E-zine
0 Comments - Leave a comment!

This e-zine was originally sent on February 19, 2010.  It may have been edited somewhat from the version that was originally emailed, so be sure to sign up to make sure you are getting our e-zines fresh!

“Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable.”

- Sydney J Harris

Hello,

Wow, has this last week has really flown by for you too, or is it just me? Earlier the kids and I went to go see an Allen Americans hockey game. I’ve forgotten how much fun minor league hockey can be!

Back when we lived in Austin, I used to take Grace (who was around 5 at the time) to the Austin Ice Bats games a lot. We had a ton of fun watching the game and just hanging out. I got to teach her the national anthem and show her how to cover her heart when we sung it.  That was really cool for me.  She also learned how to keep her drink in her left hand so she didn’t shake people’s hands with a cold hand (at the meet-and-greets they would have with the players and other fans), and what a power play, icing, and a slap shot is.  You know, all the important stuff a 5 year old NEEDS to know.  At the games, I would watch her jump around in the bounce house between the periods and sometimes she just HAD to go there during the game (I guess she wasn’t there just for the hockey :)   ).  And we had a great time going around the rink talking with the friends we made there.

Of course, it was a little awkward at first when the fights broke out – “yes, dear – I know they shouldn’t be  fighting…the fans are cheering because they want our guy to win… …you do know that just ’cause they are fighting that you still shouldn’t hit your sisters, right? …. Good, because I don’t want to get in trouble with your mom….Yeah, it’s just part of hockey, so uhm, its okay for these guys to fight….I guess….uhm….Oh, hey, is that the peanut guy? You wanted some peanuts to go with that cotton candy, hot dog, coke, and popcorn I just fed you, right?” By the end of the season, she would just put on her ear protection and keep coloring while she waited for the crowd to stop yelling and sit back down.  Good times!

There were no fights or bouce houses at our Allen Americans game, but lots of great fans and good hockey.  We also got to see a guy in an Abe Lincoln costume (who dropped the ceremonial puck), a guy walking around the concourse in really tall stilts, and apparently there was a gorilla chasing a banana at one point  –  I wish I hadn’t missed the gorilla, but Grace saw it.  Anyway, there aren’t too many more games this season, so if you get a chance to head out there, Go! It is a great time. Just try not to sit next to the guy beating the drums the whole game – I’m hoping that was just when we were there.

This week, I’d like to follow up a little on what we talked about last week and touch on five critical documents every family must have. Read on, and send your feedback! And, of course, if you need help with any of this, that’s exactly what I’m here for!

Aaron Miller’s

“Straight Talk” Personal Strategy

Five Critical Documents Every Family Must Have

While some families have openly shared financial information with one another, other families consider those figures dark secrets. Having heard too many financial horror stories I recommend financial openness and suggest an annual review of these five documents as a model for others.

1)  A will

You need a will to direct the transfer of your assets after your death, no matter how “poor” you are. Seven out of ten people don’t have a will, but don’t take comfort in numbers. Six of the seven won’t read this article, and the other three families have finally made a priority of getting a will. Go do your will. The larger your estate, the more complicated the will may be. But it’s time and money well spent. Advance planning can save your loved ones time, frustration and money.

2)  A living will

You need a living will so that someone else can make decisions about your life if you can’t. It also states your preferences for life-prolonging procedures in the event of permanent illness or unconsciousness where your death is imminent. It is sometimes called a “durable medical power of attorney.” A living will ensures your wishes are followed without making your family guess.

3)  A power of attorney

You need a power of attorney to authorize someone to manage your finances if you are sick or disabled. You might consider using a financial planner who manages accounts so they continue to manage your assets even if you are incapacitated.

Even if you have an asset manager, however, you should still have a power of attorney to facilitate your other financial obligations if you are incapacitated.

4)  A directory of basic information

You need a directory of basic information for anyone who needs to take over handling your finances in an emergency. You should collect a list of all your assets (stocks, mutual funds, bonds, real estate, loans, 401ks, IRAs, etc.), where they are located (safe-deposit box, former employers, brokerage accounts, etc.), their approximate value, and the names of your professional advisers (tax advisers, lawyers, financial planner, investment counselors, trustees, etc.). Be sure to include the appropriate account numbers, phone numbers and contact information.

If you think this information is hard for you to pull together, imagine how difficult it would be for someone else who is asked to fill your shoes in an emergency!

5)  Yearly financial statements

You need a yearly collection of financial statements both for yourself and also for those helping you with financial planning.

Your yearly financial statements should include a net worth statement, an asset allocation analysis, the cost basis for all taxable investments, the past year’s performance, your current income and a copy of the first two pages of your tax return.

This exercise will take some time to complete the first time you do it. However, in subsequent years, the task will not only take less time, but you will be able to compare this year’s total with prior years. That way you can quickly see how you are progressing toward your goals.

Communicating honestly about your finances with your family and putting your estate in order passes on a legacy of foresight and financial wisdom that will help generations to come. And it’s never too late to start.

To your family’s wealth, health, and happiness!

Aaron Miller

Miller Law Firm, PLLC
Your Life Is Our Life’s Work!
101 E. Park Blvd., Suite 600
Plano, Texas 75074
Connect via: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

PS–If you are receiving this and are NOT a subscriber to our weekly “Straight Talk” Personal Strategy Email series, click here to sign up.

To ensure we don’t make the folks at the IRS ornery, we inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein. This message may contain confidential and/or privileged information. If you are not the addressee or authorized to receive this for the addressee, you must not use, copy, disclose, or take any action based on this message or any information herein. If you have received this message in error, please advise the sender immediately by reply e-mail and delete this message. PHEW!

Getting ready for tax time

Written on April 1, 2010 by in E-zine
0 Comments - Leave a comment!

This e-zine was originally sent on February 5, 2010.  It may have been edited somewhat from the version that was originally emailed, so be sure to sign up to make sure you are getting our e-zines fresh!

Be true to your work, your word, and your friend.

- Henry David Thoreau

Hi,

A few weeks ago, I wrote about how to protect your passwords online .  Here is why – yesterday, someone hacked my yahoo account, copied all of the contacts I had in there, and deleted them.  Then they sent an email that began, “I’m writing this with tears in my eyes…” and gave a sad story of me and my family being mugged in Wales, UK, then not being helped by the police or the embassy. On top of that, I was stuck in a hotel with a $1, 170 (wait, don’t they use pounds?) bill and the manger wouldn’t let me leave.  The email then asked to send the money.  The really tricky thing was they closely duplicated my email address, changing one character, so it really looked like it came to me.

I tried to let people know via twitter and facebook, but because they deleted all my yahoo contacts, I couldn’t send another email saying the other was a fraud.  I’ve notified yahoo and hopefully they have or will shut this guy down.

So a couple of lessons, change your passwords regularly.  And if you get a weird email from a friend saying they need money be sure to question the friend directly in a new email and not replying to the plea (or give them a call).

Looking on the bright side, I was able to connect with a lot of people that I hadn’t heard from in awhile as they called or emailed checking in on it.  So for that, I can say, thanks Hacker!

Well…we’re moving into the “Love” month! But for many folks, it’s also the TAX month. Ouch.

Even if you’re working with a CPA or tax professional, it’s just a big pain to gather all of your tax documents without missing anything.

So I wanted to share this little checklist to make sure you don’t miss anything when you are going through your taxes. I hope it’s helpful!

Aaron Miller’s

“Straight Talk” Personal Strategy

My Tax-Time Checklist

This list is mostly complete–but I’m always looking to add to it! Let me know if you think I missed anything.

Personal Data

Social Security Numbers (including spouse and children)

Child care provider tax I.D. or Social Security Number

Employment & Income Data

W-2 forms for this year

Tax refunds and unemployment compensation: Form 1099-G

Miscellaneous income including rent: Form 1099-MISC

Partnership and trust income

Pensions and annuities

Alimony received

Jury duty pay

Gambling and lottery winnings

Prizes and awards

Scholarships and fellowships

State and local income tax refunds

Unemployment compensation

Homeowner/Renter Data

Residential address(es) for this year

Mortgage interest: Form 1098

Sale of your home or other real estate: Form 1099-S

Second mortgage interest paid

Real estate taxes paid

Rent paid during tax year

Moving expenses

Financial Assets

Interest income statements: Form 1099-INT & 1099-OID

Dividend income statements: Form 1099-DIV

Proceeds from broker transactions: Form 1099-B

Retirement plan distribution: Form 1099-R

Capital gains or losses

Financial Liabilities

Auto loans and leases  (account numbers and car value) if vehicle used for business

Student loan interest paid

Early withdrawal penalties on CDs and other fixed time deposits

Automobiles

Personal property tax information

Department of Motor Vehicles fees

Expenses

Gifts to charity (receipts for any single donations of $250 or more)

Unreimbursed expenses related to volunteer work

Unreimbursed expenses related to your job (travel expenses, entertainment, uniforms, union dues, subscriptions)

Investment expenses

Job-hunting expenses

Education expenses (tuition and fees)

Child care expenses

Medical Savings Accounts

Adoption expenses

Alimony paid

Tax return preparation expenses and fees

Self-Employment Data

Estimated tax vouchers for the current year

Self-employment tax

Self-employment SEP plans

Self-employed health insurance

K-1s on all partnerships

Receipts or documentation for business-related expenses

Farm income

Deduction Documents

State and local income taxes

IRA, Keogh and other retirement plan contributions

Medical expenses

Casualty or theft losses

Other miscellaneous deductions

To your family’s wealth, health, and happiness!

Aaron Miller

Miller Law Firm, PLLC
Your Life Is Our Life’s Work!
101 E. Park Blvd., Suite 600
Plano, Texas 75074
Connect via: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

PS–If you are receiving this and are NOT a subscriber to our weekly “Straight Talk” Personal Strategy Email series, click here to sign up.

To ensure we don’t make the folks at the IRS ornery, we inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein. This message may contain confidential and/or privileged information. If you are not the addressee or authorized to receive this for the addressee, you must not use, copy, disclose, or take any action based on this message or any information herein. If you have received this message in error, please advise the sender immediately by reply e-mail and delete this message. PHEW!

Estate tax ‘repeal’ directly affects married couples

Written on March 25, 2010 by in E-zine
1 Comment - Leave a comment!

This e-zine was originally sent on January 29, 2010.  It may have been edited somewhat from the version that was originally emailed, so be sure to sign up to make sure you are getting our e-zines fresh!

“If you keep thinking about what you want to do or what you hope will happen, you don’t do it, and it won’t happen.”

- Desiderius Erasmus

Hi Aaron,

I hope you’ll allow me to be a proud dad for a minute. My youngest daughter (the six year old), got first place in first grade at her school’s science fair this week!  It was a project having to do with measuring different amounts of baking soda mixed with vinegar and how much it blew up a balloon.  Very fun!  She definitely gets her science gene from her mom — not me that’s for sure!

Well, I thought I’d talk a little this week about some changes in the estate planning laws.  You might have heard that the estate tax has been “repealed” for 2010.  While, this may be good news for a few families, something like 6,000 or so, but for the rest of us…

It’s not all rosy.

Read on to hear what I mean…

Aaron Miller’s

“Straight Talk” Personal Strategy

Married Couples Affected By New Estate Environment

Because of a Congressional failure to act before the end of 2009, there’s good news and bad news to report on the Estate Planning front.

The good news is there’s no Estate Tax if you die this year.  The bad news is, that you may owe significant capital gains taxes if a loved one dies this year and leaves you significant appreciated assets. If you have total assets of around $1 million or more (including face value of life insurance, retirement plans, home equity, etc.) you should make sure their estate plan is up to date.

Congress has had nine years to prevent this from happening, but has failed to act.

Under the provisions of a tax-cut bill enacted in 2001, the estate tax exemption has been gradually raised over the past eight years, while the tax rate on estates has been reduced.

For estates of those dying in 2009, only assets worth $3.5 million or more were subject to estate taxes, at a rate of 45 percent. But now, for the year 2010, the estate tax has disappeared entirely, only to be restored in 2011 at a rate of 55 percent on estates of $1 million or more, which is exactly where things stood before the 2001 change.

Many Couples At Risk

The new world of “no estate tax” places at particular risk certain couples who have built in “Credit Shelter” trust provisions (also called “Bypass Trust” or “Family Trust” provisions), which are designed to allow both spouses to take advantage of their estate tax exemptions.

These are common arrangements used in estate planning for married couples. With the estate tax gone, one possible problem is that the wording of some of these trusts could cause all assets to completely bypass the surviving spouse when the first spouse dies. For a more detailed explanation of this potential problem, see this blog posting:

http://www.ncestateplanningblog.com/2010/01/articles/estate-planning/the-estate-tax-is-gone-for-now-estate-plan-updates-are-imperative/

Everyone — Especially Married Couples — Should Have Their Estate Planning Reviewed ASAP.

Because of these tax changes, a review of your existing estate planning documents is essential.

Hope that helps!

To your family’s wealth, health, and happiness!

Aaron Miller

Miller Law Firm, PLLC
Your Life is Our Life’s Work
101 E. Park Blvd., Suite 600
Plano, Texas 75074
Connect via: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

PS–If you are receiving this and are NOT a subscriber to our weekly “Straight Talk” Personal Strategy Email series, click here to sign up.

To ensure we don’t make the folks at the IRS ornery, we inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein. This message may contain confidential and/or privileged information. If you are not the addressee or authorized to receive this for the addressee, you must not use, copy, disclose, or take any action based on this message or any information herein. If you have received this message in error, please advise the sender immediately by reply e-mail and delete this message. PHEW!

“If you keep thinking about what you want to do or what you hope will happen, you don’t do it, and it won’t happen.”

- Desiderius Erasmus

Hi Aaron,

I hope you’ll allow me to be a proud dad for a minute.  Kaity, my youngest daughter, got first place in first grade at her school’s science fair this week!  It was a project having to do with measuring different amounts of baking soda mixed with vinegar and how much it blew up a balloon.  Very fun!  She definitely gets her science gene from her mom — not me that’s for sure!

Well, I thought I’d talk a little this week about some changes in the estate planning laws.  You might have heard that the estate tax has been “repealed” for 2010.  While, this may be good news for a few families, something like 6,000 or so, but for the rest of us…

It’s not all rosy.

Read on to hear what I mean…

Aaron Miller’s

“Straight Talk” Personal Strategy

Married Couples Affected By New Estate Environment

Because of a Congressional failure to act before the end of 2009, there’s good news and bad news to report on the Estate Planning front.

The good news is there’s no Estate Tax if you die this year.  The bad news is, that you may owe significant capital gains taxes if a loved one dies this year and leaves you significant appreciated assets. If you have total assets of around $1 million or more (including face value of life insurance, retirement plans, home equity, etc.) you should make sure their estate plan is up to date.

Congress has had nine years to prevent this from happening, but has failed to act.

Under the provisions of a tax-cut bill enacted in 2001, the estate tax exemption has been gradually raised over the past eight years, while the tax rate on estates has been reduced.

For estates of those dying in 2009, only assets worth $3.5 million or more were subject to estate taxes, at a rate of 45 percent. But now, for the year 2010, the estate tax has disappeared entirely, only to be restored in 2011 at a rate of 55 percent on estates of $1 million or more, which is exactly where things stood before the 2001 change.

Many Couples At Risk

The new world of “no estate tax” places at particular risk certain couples who have built in “Credit Shelter” trust provisions (also called “Bypass Trust” or “Family Trust” provisions), which are designed to allow both spouses to take advantage of their estate tax exemptions.

These are common arrangements used in estate planning for married couples. With the estate tax gone, one possible problem is that the wording of some of these trusts could cause all assets to completely bypass the surviving spouse when the first spouse dies. For a more detailed explanation of this potential problem, see this blog posting:

http://www.ncestateplanningblog.com/2010/01/articles/estate-planning/the-estate-tax-is-gone-for-now-estate-plan-updates-are-imperative/

Everyone — Especially Married Couples — Should Have Their Estate Planning Reviewed ASAP.

Because of these tax changes, a review of your existing estate planning documents is essential.


Hope that helps!

Attorney Aaron Miller Joins National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys

Written on March 24, 2010 by in Press Release
0 Comments - Leave a comment!

National Academy of Elder law Attorneys, Inc.
1577 Spring Hill Road -Vienna, VA 22182
703-942-5711-www.NAELA.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Peter G. Wacht (703) 942-5711

ATTORNEY JOINS NATIONAL ACADEMY

Aaron Miller, of the Miller Law Firm, PLLC, has joined the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Inc. (NAELA). Membership in the Academy is open to licensed attorneys who are practicing in the area of Elder Law or who are interested in legal issues pertaining to the elderly.

Established in 1987, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) is a nonprofit association that assists lawyers, bar organizations and others. Members of NAELA are attorneys who are experienced and trained in working with the legal problems of aging Americans and individuals of all ages with disabilities. The mission of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys is to establish NAELA members as the premier providers of legal advocacy, guidance and services to enhance the lives of people with special needs and people as they age. NAELA currently has more than 4,000 members across the United States, Canada and Australia.

For more information, please contact NAELA at 703.942.5711 or visit www.naela.org.

###

Still Reeling About Haiti

Written on March 18, 2010 by in E-zine
0 Comments - Leave a comment!

This e-zine was originally sent on January 21, 2010.  It may have been edited somewhat from the version that was originally emailed, so be sure to sign up to make sure you are getting our e-zines fresh!

He who loses wealth loses much; he who loses a friend loses more; but he that loses his courage loses all.

- Miguel De Cervantes

Hi,

Well the house was filled with a bunch of 11 and 12 year old girls all trying to solve a murder mystery last Friday night for our oldest daughter’s 12th birthday.  Thankfully, my job was to entertain our younger two girls, so we spent some quality time at McDonald’s and Target before heading home to watch “Hotel For Dogs” in the bedroom. Except for the “Mystery of the Missing Car Keys,” which thankfully was solved today (finally!), a good time was had by all.  Now we are looking forward to my next daughter’s 8th birthday next week.  Thankfully no party – just some quality family time!

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been deeply affected by what happened in Haiti. It’s shocking, painful and the worst part of it all is how uncertain that nation’s future will remain to be for some time.

How have you been processing that event? I think that part of what often makes us all numb to these disasters is that “daily life” must go on. So there’s a natural disconnect. Here I am watching images of severe devastation–there I am grabbing a latte with a double shot of espresso.

If you have located an effective place to send donations–the big organizations spend so much money on “overhead”, that I find it difficult to believe I’d get the most “bang for my buck”– I’d be interested in hearing about it.

Just a short note this week, but we’ll come back next week with more Personal Strategy Notes.

To your family’s wealth, health, and happiness!

Aaron Miller

Miller Law Firm, PLLC
Your Life is Our Life’s Work
101 E. Park Blvd., Suite 600
Plano, Texas 75074
Connect via: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

PS–If you are receiving this and are NOT a subscriber to our weekly “Straight Talk” Personal Strategy Email series, click here to sign up.

To ensure we don’t make the folks at the IRS ornery, we inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein. This message may contain confidential and/or privileged information. If you are not the addressee or authorized to receive this for the addressee, you must not use, copy, disclose, or take any action based on this message or any information herein. If you have received this message in error, please advise the sender immediately by reply e-mail and delete this message. PHEW!

« Older Posts
Newer Posts »