It is always a good idea to change your estate plan when there are significant changes in your life. You should also change your estate plan when there are significant changes in the law. As there have been recent changes in tax laws, now is a good time for married couples to revisit their estate plans.
Professionally prepared estate plans are normally crafted for the tax laws that existed at the time the plans are created. This makes sense, as no one can predict what changes will be made to the laws in the future. However, it also means that when there are changes to the tax laws, changes also must be made to estate plans.
The Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog recently wrote about the latest tax changes that should make married couples revisit their estate plans in “Recent Changes That Create Need For Married Couples to Update Wills.”
The changes include:
- Estate Tax Exemption – The estate tax exemption has been raised, meaning that more of the estate is protected. This could make some estate plans obsolete.
- Portability – It is now possible to take advantage of a spouse’s unused portion of the exemption, which makes some trusts obsolete.
- Income Taxes – Rising tax rates might make some estate plan provisions undesirable.
If you and your spouse created an estate plan under the old tax laws, now is a very good time to consult an experienced estate planning attorney to ensure that your plan is revised accordingly.
Please contact our office today at 239-225-7911 to schedule an appointment with Barbara M. Pizzolato if you are interested in protecting your legacy and need to create or update your estate plan. You may also wish to attend one of our free seminars.
Reference: Wills, Trusts & Estates Prof Blog (November 19, 2014) “Recent Changes That Create Need For Married Couples to Update Wills”
