Articles
Estate planning may be something you only associate with older adults – those with families that span multiple generations, retirees who have accumulated wealth from work and various retirement and investment plans, or elderly individuals who require assistance through at-home care or nursing homes. But estate planning can be beneficial to young adults as well. […]
June 15th is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). An estimated 1 in 10 Americans over the age of 60 have experienced some form of abuse or mistreatment. WEAAD was created in 2006 to promote a better understanding of elder abuse and educate individuals on how to identify, address, and prevent abuse in the future. […]
Is it a gift or a loan? Different requirements and issues are raised depending on how this question is answered. If it’s a gift… Most gifts do not require paperwork or IRS Forms to be filled out. In fact, presently individuals can gift up to $15,000 per recipient per year without paying any gift taxes, […]
Today, April 16, 2019, our firm, along with other national, state and community organizations, is taking part in a massive effort to highlight the importance of advance healthcare decision-making — an effort that has culminated in the formal designation of April 16th as National Healthcare Decisions Day (NHDD). We have been supporting our clients’ healthcare […]
The Law Office of Matthew A. Ferri would like to congratulate Nash on achieving his therapy certification. As a therapy dog Nash will be able to visit hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and other facilities to help people take the time to “paws awhile for love.” We are excited for him to meet our clients and […]
After we now have passed Chinese New Year, it’s a great time to check in with yourself on how you are doing with your New Year’s resolutions. You would not be alone if you haven’t stuck with them as much as you would have liked to – studies have shown most individuals don’t keep their […]
Today, we are celebrating 10 years, yes 10 years in business! Just as in the beginning, we are excited to continue helping small businesses and families with their planning and achieving their goals. We are thankful for all of our clients and friends we have made along the way. We appreciate the ability to give and […]
General Motors is currently offering buyouts to 18,000 salaried employees who have 12 or more years of experience. Employee buyout packages can come in the form of a one-time lump sum payment, which without proper planning, can have tax and estate implications. If you decide to take the buyout, there are a few things to […]
It is fall in Michigan (even though it certainly looks and feels like winter), and now is the time to prepare for a productive new year. For small business owners, you should be considering ways to improve your operations in 2019. One way is to review your business documents. This is important for a small […]
Using Joint Accounts By Matthew A. Ferri, Esq. Do you own joint accounts or property as joint tenants? Have you considered the planning pitfalls of this way of owning property? Ownership as joint tenants (which includes joint bank accounts) is so pervasive in our society that we never look at its downsides. What Is Joint Tenancy? […]
Blended Families and Estate Planning By Matthew A. Ferri, Esq. Blended families by nature bring more people to the table. The following are only a few of the big challenges we face when estate planning for a blended family. Your Ex-Spouse A major concern for most divorces is the need to disinherit your ex-spouse. While married […]
Many parents purchase life insurance, sign a will, or prepare a trust to ensure the well-being of their children. The majority of life insurance proceeds are left outright to children and other beneficiaries without a single word of instruction. This kind of planning is a travesty. Minor children cannot own property. Leaving life insurance proceeds […]