What to know before donating to a charity in your estate plan

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Signs that read Accept and Reject.

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 »

What are the rules for inherited IRAs?

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A piggy bank sitting atop cash, symbolizing the savings accumulated in an IRA.

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 »

SmolenPlevy Attorneys Volunteer in Fairfax Law Foundation’s Heroes vs. Villains 5k

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Attorneys Joshua Isaacs and Julie Swerbinsky volunteer at Fairfax Law Foundation’s Heroes vs. Villains 9th Annual Run for Justice 5k.

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 »

The Huffington Post: 5 Reasons For a Prenup

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Attorneys Alan Plevy and Kyung (Kathryn) Dickerson

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 »

The Huffington Post: Common Post-Divorce Life Changes

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Attorneys Alan Plevy and Kyung (Kathryn) Dickerson

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 »

Death and Taxes: Gifting Money Lowers Taxes but Might Raise Anxieties

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Attorneys Jason Smolen and Daniel Ruttenberg

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 »

In the Media: Kyung Dickerson Shares Smart Tips for a Smooth Divorce

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Attorney Kyung (Kathryn) Dickerson

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 »