Probate Administration – Frequently Asked Questions (This blog has been updated from the post dated August 8, 2012) 1. What is probate? Probate is the process of proving the Will, appointing the Personal Representative, paying the decedent’s debts, filing applicable tax returns, collecting any monies owed the decedent, and identifying, valuing, and transferring the decedent’s…
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Giving to Charity Giving to Charity We are all blessed to live in a giving community. Over the years, I have had the privilege of serving on several non-profit boards in Great Falls, including Community Help Line, Children’s Museum of Montana, Montana School for the Deaf and Blind Foundation, Great Falls Public Schools Foundation, and…
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Estate Tax Exemption And Annual Gift Tax Exclusion For 2021 Official Estate and Gift Tax Limits for 2021 The Internal Revenue Service announced at the end of October the official estate and gift tax limits for 2021: The estate and gift tax exemption is $11.7 million per individual, up from $11.58 million in 2020. That means…
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Montana Transfer on Death Deed Transfer on Death (TOD) Deed Montana has replaced the Beneficiary Deed with the Transfer on Death (“TOD”) Deed. Both are intended to allow owners to transfer, effective upon death, their real property located in Montana to one of or more beneficiaries or grantees. The new TOD Deed is now the…
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Our 2020 Reminder to Relax and Enjoy Life (Whenever & However You Can) This year has been hard for so many of us. The pandemic has changed the way we live in dramatic ways, while adding both worry and loneliness to the stress of a major election year. As the year comes to a close,…
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How to Own Your Real Estate in Montana Real Estate Ownership Real estate encompasses not only one’s primary residence but also other real estate such as a vacation home or a rental property. The ideal form of ownership varies depending on the type of real estate you own. Below, we take a look at the…
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Estate Planning Terms to Know Estate Planning Estate planning—it is an incredibly important tool, not just for the wealthy or those thinking about retirement. On the contrary, estate planning is something every adult should do. Estate planning can help you accomplish any number of goals, including appointing guardians for minor children, choosing healthcare agents to…
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Estate Planning Strategies to Consider in an Election Year [Please note: This post is shared and intended to be for informational estate planning purposes only for those who may be affected by potential tax law changes. It is not intended to be an endorsement for one political party candidate or the other.] Push To Return…
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Potential Tax Law Changes That Would Affect Estate Planning [Please note: This post is shared and intended to be for informational estate planning purposes only for those who may be affected by potential tax law changes. It is not intended to be an endorsement for one political party candidate or the other.] Potential Tax Law…
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The Work of a Legal Assistant If you Google “Legal Assistant” you would find job descriptions that list seemingly boring administrative tasks with perhaps a few interesting things mixed in. You might even find the ever-popular joke: Legal assistant (n.) a person who babysits lawyers People have a lot of ideas about what we (Chris,…
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