Some Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities Are Snatching Residents' Pandemic Relief Checks, FTC Warns

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning residents of long-term care facilities and their families that some facilities may unlawfully require residents who are on Medicaid to sign over their $1,200 pandemic relief checks.

“This is not just a horror story making the rounds. These are actual reports that...

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Pandemic Relief: Retirement Account Owners Do Not Have to Take Required Distributions in 2020

Retirement account owners, many of whose retirement balances have been pummeled by a stock market drop due to the coronavirus pandemic, do not have to take mandatory withdrawals this year. 

Federal law requires individuals who were age 70 1/2 before the end of 2019 to begin taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) from...

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Coronavirus Relief Funds Paid to Deceased Americans Must Be Returned

The federal coronavirus relief bill has sent direct emergency payments to some 150 million Americans in the wake of the pandemic. Among the recipients are possibly millions of deceased individuals, raising questions about what their survivors should do with the money. After weeks of silence, the IRS has finally confirmed...

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Estate Planning and Asset Protection for Retirement Accounts

For many estate planning clients, their retirement account represents the majority of their wealth.  Typically these accounts are held in "tax qualified plans" such as a 401(k), or an IRA.  Because they are not subject to income tax until withdrawn -- typically at age 70 1/2 -- they provide the ability to accumulate large amounts of wealth during one's lifetime.  In...
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Estate Planning Challenges Faced by Non-Citizen US Residents

Generally, if you are domiciled in the United States (US) at death, your estate is subject to US estate taxes. The determination of domicile is subjective. If you are a permanent resident, however, and have a green card, you will undoubtedly be considered domiciled in the US.  But does that mean that you are treated the same as...
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