Wall Street Journal: Obama Plans To Keep Estate Tax

As you know, if you are a client of mine - The Estate Tax or "Death Tax" has been fluctuating since 2001, with a future uncertain. Well, now the future is beginning to take form.

When President Bush was elected in 2000, one of his campaign pledges was to make the estate tax go away. And Congress did, in fact, pass legislation that would abolish the estate tax. Sort of...

What they passed, the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGGTRA) enacted a series of increases in the amount of money your estate could be worth without paying “death taxes” — increases in the estate tax exemption, leading eventually to abolition of the tax during the year 2010.

However, EGTRRA sunsets, or reverts to the provisions that were in effect before it was passed on January 1, 2011 unless further legislation is enacted to make its changes permanent.

We may not have to wait long.

According to The Wall Street Journal:

Bottom line: if you expected the estate tax to actually go away, you were mistaken. As the laws change, it is important that you have your plan reviewed to make sure it is up to date. We can help you with this review. And if you haven’t yet created an estate plan, you should come and see us for a plan that takes all these new realities into account.

The Law Office of Bennett Braverman, PC - Opens its Doors

I am pleased to announce the opening of The Law Office of Bennett Braverman, PC!

After years of working in a partnership, the experience of starting a solo estate planning practice is an exciting one, and I’m looking forward to sharing my insights and experiences with you in my newsletters and on my blog.

I am now working out of the beautiful and historic Spruce Street Mansion in downtown Boulder, and I couldn’t ask for a better place to go to work every day.

Although my location and firm name have changed, my goals and priorities have not. I continue to believe that estate and legacy planning is much more than a collection of legal techniques. Rather, it should be a process that enriches and enhances the lives of everyone involved, leading to peace of mind for you and the people you love.

My mission statement, therefore, remains the same as it ever has:
• To be accessible and to communicate openly: I want you to feel totally comfortable.
• To operate with integrity: You will know that I have only your best interest at heart.
• To utilize the most up-to-date estate planning tools and knowledge: Your plan will be completed in an efficient, timely and meticulous manner.
• To be a student of your values and a teacher of the law, as it applies to your situation.

Thank you to all of my friends and clients who have supported me in my move. I look forward to seeing all of you, as well as new friends and clients, in my firm’s new home.