Attorneys And Counsellors At Law
A primary goal of your estate plan is to transfer wealth to your heirs according to your wishes and at the lowest possible tax cost. However, if you have creditors, be aware of fraudulent transfer laws. In a nutshell, if your creditors challenge your gifts, trusts or other strategies as fraudulent transfers, they can quickly undo your estate plan. Read more »
For many, an important estate planning goal is to encourage their children or other heirs to lead responsible, productive lives. One tool for achieving this goal is a principle trust. Read more »
If your estate plan includes non-cash charitable donations or liquid asset donations with restrictions, you may wish to discuss such planned gifts with the intended recipients before you finalize your plan. This is particularly important for donations that place restrictions on the charity’s use of the gift, as well as donations of real estate or other liquid assets. In contrast, if you are making a simple cash bequest, not contacting the charity might be the better approach. If you are not interested in immediate recognition, not contacting the charity about a gift will keep the charity off your front doorstep until such time as is appropriate to let them know. Read more »
An IRA can be a powerful wealth-building tool, offering tax-deferred growth (tax-free in the case of a Roth IRA), asset protection and other benefits. But if you leave an IRA to your children — or to someone else other than your spouse — these benefits can be lost without careful planning. Read more »
Joshua Isaacs and Julie Swerbinsky volunteered at Fairfax Law Foundation’s Heroes vs. Villains 9th Annual Run for Justice 5k. Participants wore their best superhero or villain costume as they ran to raise money for the Foundation’s Pro Bono Program. It provides legal services for impoverished residents in Fairfax County and law-related education programs for students in the community. Read more »
Tax issues can surface every year, but former spouses who continue to feud lose the opportunity to save themselves taxes. The Wall Street Journal shares six tax issues that could affect you if you are divorced. Read more »
January’s divorce filings are 30% more than any other month. SmolenPlevy Principal and family law attorney Kyung (Kathryn) Dickerson appeared on News Channel 8's Good Morning Washington to explain why there is such an increase in divorces at the start of the new year. Read more »
There is a lot at stake in the recently announced split between Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt; SmolenPlevy co-founding principal and family law attorney Alan Plevy was on News Channel 8’s Good Morning Washington explaining some of the nuances and complications arising out of their separation. Read more »
Preparing in advance is vital if you want to protect your assets and have a say in how they are passed on. SmolenPlevy Principal Dan Ruttenberg, JD, CPA, LLM shares estate planning tips on local TV show, Senior Living in Alexandria. Read more »
There’s nothing classically romantic about prenuptial agreements. Most couples willfully avoid them because they don’t want to ruin their blissful idea of a marriage lasting until death do they part. But they can learn from the long list of celebrity splits about what can happen when you don’t have a prenup. In one of the most expensive Hollywood divorces, actor/director Mel Gibson reportedly paid $425 million to his ex, Robyn Moore. Read more »
Published March 23, 2016 by Alan Plevy and Kyung (Kathryn) Dickerson A parenting relationship does not end when the divorce proceedings do. SmolenPlevy Principals Kyung (Kathryn) Dickerson and Alan Plevy share six common post-divorce life changes with The Huffington Post. Life After Divorce: 6 Common Post-Divorce Life Changes Circumstances change over time and […] Read more »
Published May 2, 2016 by Dan Ruttenberg A court confirmed that music superstar Prince died without a will, which leaves complicated questions about who inherits his vast fortune. There are at least six siblings, including half siblings, who may inherit, and the confusion is just starting. In an interview on […] Read more »
While no two divorces are the same, there are certain proactive steps couples can take before separating. SmolenPlevy Principal Kyung (Kathryn) Dickerson offers a divorce to-do list on The Huffington Post. Read more »
There’s a saying that death is hardest on those left behind. This is especially true if those left behind receive an unexpected and hefty estate tax bill. Estate taxes—or “death taxes,” as they’re often called— can be burdensome. Perhaps the most challenging thing about estate taxes is that they’re always changing and we generally don’t know if we’re going to die in a year when estate taxes favor our heirs. Read more »
One does not generally think of divorce as something that can be inexpensive or relatively easy, but SmolenPlevy Principal and family law attorney Kyung (Kathryn) Dickerson says certain strategies can minimize the conflict created by a divorce. On NewsChannel 8’s Let’s Talk Live, Dickerson shares some considerations for a smooth divorce: Read more »
