Trump Accounts, the new federal savings accounts for children, became available this summer and have drawn renewed attention from disability advocates this fall. For a child with a disability, savings in these accounts may count against the asset limit for Supplemental Security Income once the child turns 18. Families who plan ahead can protect both
Trump Accounts and SSI Eligibility Risks Read More »
North Dakota has opened a new state agency dedicated to guardianship and conservatorship. The Office of Guardianship and Conservatorship announced this week that it is fully staffed and operating. Its responsibilities offer a useful look at what guardianship involves and how families can plan around it. What the New Office Does According to KFYR in
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Massachusetts health officials approved new regulations this week that give the state more power to decide who may own and operate long-term care facilities. The vote came a day after the state moved to revoke the licenses of a dozen nursing homes run by a single operator. For families choosing a facility or planning for
Massachusetts Tightens Nursing Home Oversight Read More »
A Florida manufacturer has completed its transition to employee ownership as part of its founders’ succession plan. The owners sold the company to an employee stock ownership plan, known as an ESOP, rather than to an outside buyer. The move shows one path owners can take when they are ready to retire but want the
How an ESOP Can Serve as a Succession Plan Read More »
A growing number of states now give donors a way to enforce the conditions they place on charitable gifts. The issue drew new attention this week after a report found that donors and their estates rarely have legal recourse when a charity departs from a gift agreement. For anyone planning a significant gift, the findings
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A recent Ninth Circuit decision allows the Federal Trade Commission to collect a judgment directly from a house held in the debtors’ own trust. The ruling does not change state trust law. It does show how little protection a trust offers when the people who owe the debt also control it and benefit from it.
When Federal Creditors Reach Trust Assets Read More »
The IRS is raising the user fee for estate tax closing letters, and the new amount applies to requests received after October 26, 2026. The dollar change is modest. It is still a good occasion to look at how the closing letter fits into estate administration and why executors should plan for it early. What
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A Palm Beach caretaker has been charged with stealing from a 100-year-old woman she had cared for over 15 years. The case came to light after the woman’s grandson became her agent under a power of attorney and began reviewing her accounts. It shows how this document protects people who can no longer watch over
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A Texas family has agreed to divide the historic Brite Ranch, resolving most of a trust dispute that began in 2018. The settlement came days before a jury trial was set to start in Presidio County. The case shows how a trust created to preserve family land can produce years of litigation when its terms
What the Brite Ranch Case Teaches Trustees Read More »
Dolly Parton’s estate is now the subject of an active court dispute in Nashville, less than two months after her death. The case involves her nephew, who worked for her for decades, and the company that manages her business interests. It shows how quickly pressure builds when family, business, and inheritance overlap. The Dispute in
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