Friday, December 18, 2009 Press Coverage of Estate Planning This Week (December 18, 2009)Ashlea Eberling of Forbes writes about the implications of Congress not acting on estate tax laws before the end of this year. In 2010, federal estate taxes disappear, but that could lead to many problems for existing estate plans, and institution of new cost basis rules for inherited assets, which are certain to affect more people than currently impacted by the estate tax. See Congress Throws Estate Plans Into Disarray (Dec. 17, 2009).
In a second story by Forbes’ Ashlea Eberling, she notes that during the uncertainty regarding estate taxes, it may be tempting to put off action until next year, or even 2011, to let the dust settle. That would be risky, she says, because many aspects of estate planning have little to do with the federal estate tax. She lists several actions to take now, regardless of what Congress does. See Eight Steps to Protect Your Family (Dec. 14, 2009). |