A Gift to a Married Couple is a Gift to Both of Them
It’s not uncommon for family members to make a gift to a married couple. Usually, when a generous family member contemplates the couple, they assume that the marriage will continue. It also allows for a doubling of the annual gift tax exclusion amount (the well-known $15,000 figure). But sometimes the gift was really intended to […]
Marital Agreements and Death of One Spouse
OCTOBER 17, 2011 VOLUME 18 NUMBER 36 John and Marsha, contemplating marriage, want to enter into an agreement spelling out what will happen to their separate and community property if they later divorce, or when one of them dies. Or perhaps John and Marsha have been married for years, but are contemplating separation and maybe […]
Arizona Community Property Is Not Always Subject To Probate
OCTOBER 9, 2000 VOLUME 8, NUMBER 15 Arizona is one of nine “community property” states in the country, and that can be the source of some confusion about estate planning, taxes and property ownership rights for married couples. Recent changes in Arizona’s law make the “community property” designation a little more friendly and understandable, and […]