Articles & Resources

• 10/27/2010

  Estate Planning: Where Things Stand as We Move into 2011

  Author: Susan H. Confair  |  Topics: Estate Planning and Elder Law  |  Comments (457) Posted by

  As 2010 draws to an end, uncertainty surrounding the end of the current federal estate tax repeal leaves many people, and not just the “wealthy”, questioning what to do regarding their estate plan. The 2010 repeal represents an historical threshold of the first time in over 100 years that there has been no federal estate tax, although there is continued ...

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• 11/29/2009

  Nursing Home Care: Understanding the Look-Back Rules on Transfers

  Author: Susan H. Confair  |  Topics: Estate Planning and Elder Law  |  Comments (123) Posted by

  With the signing of the Deficit Reduction Act in February 2006, there have been major changes to Medicaid eligibility rules that are of great importance and interest to persons anticipating or planning to enter a nursing home. The Pennsylvania Medicaid program is called “Medical Assistance” and is administered by the Department of Public Welfare. Your local County Assistance Office handles ...

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• 9/25/2009

  PA “Filial” Support Law: What is it? Why do I care?

  Author: Susan H. Confair  |  Topics: Estate Planning and Elder Law  |  Comments (0) Posted by

  On the last day of our legislative session in July 2005, the confirmation of an old and somewhat unheard of law occurred in the form of Act 43 that became a part of Pennsylvania’s Domestic Relations Law entitled “Support of the Indigent” which refers to an adult child’s responsibility to care for and maintain or financially assist an indigent parent....

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• 4/29/2009

  Capital Gains Tax Break- Help for the Elderly

  Author: Susan H. Confair  |  Topics: Estate Planning and Elder Law  |  Comments (75) Posted by

  Estate planning and tax planning should go hand-in-hand. There’s a new tax break that certain seniors can take advantage of now that will only last between 2008 and 2010. People in the 10 and 15 percent tax brackets (the lowest two tax brackets) will pay zero percent in capital gains tax on the sale of their assets, including, but not ...

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• 4/07/2025

  Estate Planning Considerations for Business Owners

  Author: Susan H. Confair  |  Topics: Estate Planning and Elder Law  |  Comments (40) Posted by

  Passing on the business from one generation to the next is often a fundamental concern for the owner of a business due to the substantial investment one makes in their business. By properly positioning the owner's assets and income, any estate tax due upon the owner's death can be minimized and the amount of assets passing to the heirs can ...

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• 2/13/2008

  Financial Planning Considerations for Business Owners

  Author: Susan H. Confair  |  Topics: Estate Planning and Elder Law  |  Comments (64) Posted by

  Ownership of a business, whether formed as a corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership or professional corporation, can provide the owner with many financial opportunities both business oriented and personally. The business owner who uses these opportunities carefully, avoiding possible pitfalls, will reap the rewards of financial planning. This article will touch upon some of the general considerations to be ...

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• 1/15/2008

  Put Your IRA to Work: Buy Real Estate

  Author: Susan H. Confair  |  Topics: Estate Planning and Elder Law  |  Comments (76) Posted by

  A little-known provision in the Internal Revenue Code lets you utilize funds in an IRA to purchase real estate.

  Section 408 allows individuals to purchase land, commercial property, condominiums, residential property, or real estate contracts with funds held in many common forms of IRAs, including a traditional IRA, a Roth IRA, and a SEP-IRA. Keep in mind that you cannot ...

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• 11/29/2007

  Estate Planning Options

  Author: Susan H. Confair  |  Topics: Estate Planning and Elder Law  |  Comments (89) Posted by

  Your estate plan is unique. What is right for one individual or couple may not be ideal for another. What you wish to do with your estate now and upon your death is up to you. There are many options when it comes to planning your estate. Some of the more common options are creating a will for the disposition ...

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