If you're looking for tax-free options when dealing with your estate, you actually have several alternatives. You can disperse your assets ahead of time via yearly gifts and payment on medical and education bills, or donate to a charity.
If you have an estate valued at more than $5 million in 2011, you will be required to pay federal taxes - at a rate of 35 percent - for the amount above $5 million. You could owe state taxes as well, depending on where you live.
While you've probably heard it said that courts favor the mother in custody cases, the earliest custody cases typically awarded full custody to the father in the early years of divorce proceedings.
When seeking a divorce - be it no-fault or at-fault - states typically require that the spouses live separately and behave as though they have no intention of reconciliation.
Did you know that dating your spouse during a formal separation could prolong the finalization of your divorce in some states? In these states, parties must prove they had no intention of reconciliation prior to the divorce proceedings.
You cannot treat your family member any better than you would an ordinary creditor with regard to repaying debts. A bankruptcy trustee can reclaim any amount repaid to a family member within one year of filing bankruptcy, although amounts under $2,000 are generally too small to bother with.
