http://www.articlealley.com en-us editorial@articlealley.com Each year states are required to file a report with the United States Coast Guard indicating the number of recreational boats registered and the number of boating accidents and fatalities which occurred in their jurisdiction. From these numbers the Coast ... http://www.articlealley.com/article_168950_18.html 04th June 2007 While you may not have seen the film Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, you’re sure to hear all about it by watching the news or reading the local paper. The star of the film, Sasha Baron Sasha Cohen, an... http://www.articlealley.com/article_157007_18.html 09th May 2007 Within the past couple years, several states and organizations have filed toxic gas lawsuits against the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The central argument centers on the interpretation of the 1970 Clean Air Act, how to define and regulate “... http://www.articlealley.com/article_157006_18.html 09th May 2007 If you’re a business owner you should consider succession planning as part of your overall estate plan with your financial advisor. Succession planning is the process of handing over the responsibilities of running a business to someone else when you ar... http://www.articlealley.com/article_157005_19.html 09th May 2007 Under the Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act you would be committing a crime, see Section 19.40.041: "...(a) a transfer made or obligation incurred by a debtor is fraudulent as to a creditor whether the creditor's claim arose before or after the transfer wa... http://www.articlealley.com/article_153634_19.html 30th April 2007 Recently I've run across some significant issues with the single member LLC's with courts handing down noteworthy judgement decisions in favor of creditors using the theory of "fraudulent transfers" and "civil conspiracy." I ran across two such individual... http://www.articlealley.com/article_153633_19.html 30th April 2007 Any time you give someone money or property you may be subject to paying a gift tax. The federal government has established guidelines for gift tax exemptions and gift tax rates for all property transferred. These rates and exemptions can change on a year... http://www.articlealley.com/article_153629_19.html 30th April 2007 What is the inheritance tax rate? There is no such thing as a federal inheritance tax rate. The inheritance tax is imposed on a state level, and not all states have one. For example, Texas does not impose an inheritance tax, and some states refer to an es... http://www.articlealley.com/article_150738_19.html 23rd April 2007 A Frivolous Lawsuit is any legal claim that seems trivial and lacks merit. Often, an individual without legal counsel makes such a claim, and the claim is brought as a result of poor understanding for court processes and the law in general. The Prison Lit... http://www.articlealley.com/article_150736_18.html 23rd April 2007 To put it simply, Medical Malpractice is negligence on the part of a healthcare provider that resulted in injury. Medical Malpractice cases may result from misdiagnosis of a disease, failure to provide appropriate treatment for a known disease, or unreaso... http://www.articlealley.com/article_150735_18.html 23rd April 2007 A DUI/DWI (Driving Under the Influence/Driving While Influenced) is a serious driving violation which can carry hefty financial and long-lasting legal consequences. While the intent of this article is not to provide free legal advice, it will outline the ... http://www.articlealley.com/article_150734_18.html 23rd April 2007 An Offshore Annuity works very similar to a deferred variable annuity. The owner pays into the annuity during the accumulation phase using either a lump sum or paying scheduled amounts over a period of time. The money in the annuity will gain interest at ... http://www.articlealley.com/article_148174_19.html 18th April 2007 The history of real estate tax and property tax can be traced back to Colonial America. Land was taxed on a per-acre basis until the nineteenth century when uniformity clauses were adopted to help protect settlers. The uniformity clauses now require that ... http://www.articlealley.com/article_148173_19.html 18th April 2007 How to protect your assets during a divorce? Protecting assets through a divorce can be a complex financial process further complicated by the emotional devastation. If you are going through a divorce it may be important to you to determine ahead of time ... http://www.articlealley.com/article_148172_19.html 18th April 2007 Elderly care is an event that most children do not wish to think about. No one wants to think about his or her parent growing old. We look to our parents for guidance and support, but there comes a time when the parenting roles reverse. It is importan... http://www.articlealley.com/article_148171_19.html 18th April 2007 Tax-Sheltered Annuity (TSA), also known as a 403(b), is an alternative retirement savings plan. Not everyone can participate in this plan, and it is restricted to those who are employed by educational, cultural, or non-profit organizations such as religio... http://www.articlealley.com/article_145827_19.html 09th April 2007 Do you have a Living Will? To Living Will or to not to Living Will. These questions lend themselves to more questions: How well do you know and trust your loved ones? How confident are you that they understand your core values and views on what your final... http://www.articlealley.com/article_145826_19.html 09th April 2007 Warning: As of October 18, 2006 Private Annuity Trusts (PAT) are no longer recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as legal means for managing assets tax deferred! The Private Annuity Trust has been replaced with The Ensured Installment Sale (Str... http://www.articlealley.com/article_145825_19.html 09th April 2007 For some people, a Charitable Gift Annuity (CGA) is a convenient way to donate funds to an educational, religious or other charitable organization. A Charitable Gift Annuity works very similar to other annuities you might purchase through your insurance c... http://www.articlealley.com/article_145823_19.html 09th April 2007 Family limited partnerships, one such traditional limited partnership, have been over marketed as wealth transfer devises. Family limited partnerships are red flags for the Internal Revenue Service as abusive tax-free wealth transfers. Family partnerships... http://www.articlealley.com/article_143664_19.html 03rd April 2007 The limited liability company (aka L.L.C. or LLC) is the strongest asset protection devise for your business replacing the sub chapter "S" corporation. The LLC offers limited liability to the owners of a business and, additionally, the limited liability c... http://www.articlealley.com/article_143663_19.html 03rd April 2007 The nuts and bolts of a trust are a legal and binding contractual obligation created between two parties enforceable by law to all parties. Generally, the owner or possessor of valuable assets wishes to legally empower another person to control his assets... http://www.articlealley.com/article_143662_19.html 03rd April 2007 A Will is a legal document outlining a person’s final wishes for distributing their property post-mortem. A Will Contest is a type of litigation stating there is a disagreement with the current Will, and must go through Probate Court to be resolved. Wat... http://www.articlealley.com/article_143661_19.html 03rd April 2007 Annuities are not a new concept, although they have become more complex over time. The first annuities were documented in America during the mid-eighteenth century by Pennsylvanian ministers, and it was not until the early twentieth century when they beca... http://www.articlealley.com/article_143657_19.html 03rd April 2007 What if I already have a power of attorney? How will the financial directive help me still? A boilerplate power of attorney is intended to give your agent general powers. A Financial Directive has very specific powers granted by the Principal (you) to the... http://www.articlealley.com/article_143655_19.html 03rd April 2007 I recently wrote about the absolute need for a Medical Directive granting the “exclusive power” to your Agent for the purpose of communicating your healthcare wishes and to instruct those in charge of your medical care and to respond to the actual fac... http://www.articlealley.com/article_143653_19.html 03rd April 2007 An Advanced Medical Directive deals with life's real issues and combats the problems that arise where most boilerplate healthcare powers of attorney, healthcare proxies, living wills and others fall short. The Terri Schiavo case is a prime example of such... http://www.articlealley.com/article_140223_19.html 27th March 2007 Most Americans die in a hospital, nursing home, or other health care facility. Doctors who are charged with preserving life are generally legally powerless to provide other than minimum care due to their malpractice fears. The less than ideal doctor-patie... http://www.articlealley.com/article_140222_19.html 27th March 2007 There are several specific advantages of foreign or offshore trusts for lowering explicit taxation, increasing after-tax profit and safeguarding assets amongst other benefits. Domestic asset protection will be reviewed against the more formidable advantag... http://www.articlealley.com/article_140221_19.html 27th March 2007 There are many advantages to the limited liability company (LLC) including the financial and tax advantages. Herein we discuss the other specialized uses and benefits to you for possibly implementing the limited liability company in your estate planning a... http://www.articlealley.com/article_140108_19.html 27th March 2007 This is a letter in response to a reader regarding offshore limited liability companies (aka Foreign Limited Liability Company or FLLC) in asset protection planning and specifically addresses issues surrounding the Nevis LLC. Re: Using Offshore Limited... http://www.articlealley.com/article_137091_19.html 12th March 2007 ASSET PROTECTION is the concept of protecting and preserving one’s assets from frivolous lawsuits designed to primarily destroy your current and future lifestyle. Let me put it another way, up to now, you've probably worked very hard to get where you... http://www.articlealley.com/article_137090_19.html 12th March 2007 Authorities are looking for NON-COMPLIANCE, not for those who report and comply. We believe in full disclosure. If there’s no reporting form, we make-up our own and file. To my knowledge, there are no laws prohibiting you from protecting your hard-ea... http://www.articlealley.com/article_137089_19.html 12th March 2007 ASSET PROTECTION DEFINED Asset protection is the concept of protecting and preserving one’s assets from frivolous, illogical, ill-motivated, and more often than not, devastating catastrophic claims against your wealth, designed to destroy your curren... http://www.articlealley.com/article_137087_19.html 12th March 2007 The U.S. Taxpayer has been intimidated by the government, accountants, and lawyers into equating offshore or foreign business asset protection as fraudulent, unlawful illicit activities and as hiding their assets, fortunes and money illegally. The foreign... http://www.articlealley.com/article_137086_19.html 12th March 2007 WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A TRUSTEE When selecting a Trustee the most important qualities are honesty, stability, dependability, organization, financial experience, and ability to devote time and energy on an impartial basis for the benefit of all Beneficiar... http://www.articlealley.com/article_137085_19.html 12th March 2007 When presenting potential clients with different asset protection options, systems, and strategies, one of the questions asked is if I would be willing to act as their Trustee. Yes, I reply but only as a temporary basis and with a resignation letter. The ... http://www.articlealley.com/article_137084_19.html 12th March 2007 BENEFICIARY OF A TRUST The beneficiary is the reason for your trust (contract). Your beneficiary is the person who will enjoy the benefits of your trust assets. They include, wives, children, grandchildren, charitable organizations of every color and v... http://www.articlealley.com/article_137083_19.html 12th March 2007 TRUSTEE OF A TRUST The trustee is the guy who manages your trust assets. Great care should be taken in your selection of your trustee. The trustee is bound by the trust document (i.e. contract) and he has a duty to protect trust assets for the benefici... http://www.articlealley.com/article_137082_19.html 12th March 2007 GRANTOR TRUST - WHAT IS IT? - The purpose of a trust is to create an "artificial legal person" to protect, hold, and manage your private wealth for the benefit of your heirs. - As in any contract, someone must initiate the contract (grantor or trustee... http://www.articlealley.com/article_137081_19.html 12th March 2007 PART 3: ASSET PROTECTION: GENERAL/LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, CORP CHAPTER "C"/CHAPTER "S", LLC, TRUSTS CORPORATIONS (Standard Corporation under Chapter “C”) The corporation is a legal entity created under the different state laws and internationally r... http://www.articlealley.com/article_133745_19.html 01st March 2007 PART 2: ASSET PROTECTION: GENERAL/LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, CORP CHAPTER "C"/CHAPTER "S", LLC, TRUSTS THE CONCEPT OF ASSET PROTECTION includes the possibility of placing title in certain assets in the name of a less vulnerable spouse or other family members... http://www.articlealley.com/article_133744_19.html 01st March 2007 PART 1: ASSET PROTECTION: JOINT TENANCY, TENANCY IN COMMON, TENANCY IN ENTIRETY & COMMUNITY PROPERTY THE CONCEPT OF ASSET PROTECTION includes the possibility of placing title in certain assets in the name of a less vulnerable spouse or other family mem... http://www.articlealley.com/article_133742_19.html 01st March 2007 With much discomfort I have been forced to watch the Anna Nicole Smith probate proceedings and much more information than I wanted to know about Anna Nicole’s life events. Her reported death is everywhere: on TV, in print, magazines, online and everywhe... http://www.articlealley.com/article_133739_19.html 01st March 2007 While driving to an appointment, one of your employees remembers he needs to contact a co-worker regarding a meeting. He dials the number on his cell phone, and briefly takes his eyes off the road. In that instant, a vehicle in front of him shifts lanes, ... http://www.articlealley.com/article_130577_19.html 19th February 2007 Seventy seven million (77,000,000) middle class aging baby boomers are going to rely on Medicare as their default long-term health care policy. The Cato Institute estimates that $60 trillions of Medicare is an unfunded, unaccounted for obligation.* The... http://www.articlealley.com/article_130576_19.html 19th February 2007 You assume full liability for your under age children, so keep your wallet open. Or, you can avoid unpleasant events with a precise bulletproof asset protection system. To quote a local paper regarding a West Palm Beach, Florida accident “The car was... http://www.articlealley.com/article_130575_19.html 19th February 2007 Subsequent to the death of Anna Nicole Smith, it’s been reported that she may not have left a will, giving rise to additional turbulent legal confusion for years to come. Without a will, Anna Nicole potentially may be leaving her baby daughter with noth... http://www.articlealley.com/article_130574_19.html 19th February 2007 Ask any lawyer, accountant, life insurance agent, financial planner, mortgage brokers, stock brokers, or any lay person for his definition of asset protection and he will likely tell you that it’s the positioning of your assets against potential credito... http://www.articlealley.com/article_130573_19.html 19th February 2007 For those of you not familiar with the 2005 Tax Reduction Act, some of the provisions address specific transfers by seniors under the new Medicaid nursing home provisions. Under the new provisions, before seniors qualify for Medicare assistance into a nu... http://www.articlealley.com/article_128152_19.html 10th February 2007