Latest News & Blog Posts

Stay informed with Wisconsin estate planning educational articles, updates and resources from the Law Office of David Watson, LLC.

Using Trusts to Control Behavior and Preserve Family Wealth

Jun 16, 2018 | Estate Planning, Trusts

I had many clients, in addition to age restrictions, insist on trust provisions that restrict, incentivize, or otherwise reward behaviors of their intended beneficiaries. This concept is not new, especially today, where clients believe their children or grandchildren...

Do I Need Planning With Increased Federal Estate Tax Exemptions

Dec 29, 2017 | Durable Powers of Attorney, Estate Planning, Marital Property, Trusts, Wills

Absolutely! As of January 1, 2018, the federal estate tax exemption amount will rise to $5.6 million, up from $5.49 million in 2017. The annual exclusion amount for gifts in 2018 will increase to $15,000, which is up from $14,000 for gifts in 2017. This means that...

Are exclusions and portability the bypass killer?

Jun 19, 2017 | Estate Planning, Trusts

With the high estate tax applicable exclusion amounts, which may become infinitely higher in the coming months (a married couple can currently pass about $11 million tax free), and the American Taxpayer Relief Act allowing “portability” (the estate of the deceased...

Trump’s Tax Reform Proposals

May 23, 2017 | Trusts

It will be interesting to see if Trump's tax reform proposals will be enacted. According to The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, Trump proposes to "reduce the corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 15 percent, eliminate most business tax breaks, tax carried...