It is with great honor to announce that Hook Law Center Attorney and Shareholder, Letha Sgritta McDowell, has been elected as a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) being recognized for her outstanding skill and…
Category: Estate Planning
Be aware of the details on required minimum distributions
It is important for taxpayers to be informed about required minimum distributions (RMDs) from IRAs so that they can plan accordingly for their retirement. In the current year, those persons age 70 ½ or older are required to take a…
How to transfer property to a living trust
A living trust is a legal entity that is used to hold title to your assets while you are alive.…
Address these essential elements of retirement planning
During your retirement years, you may expect to receive Social Security payments. A few people may also receive payments from…
Department of Defense Rolls Out a New Retirement Plan
The Department of Defense has unveiled a new retirement plan that will go into effect on January 1, 2018. The…
The Effect of Divorce on Your Estate Plan
An unfortunate, but common, scenario: You and your spouse get divorced. You remarry, but die shortly thereafter. Your loved ones…
How net investment income can affect tax planning
There are two ways in which the 3.8 percent net investment income tax (NIIT) can have an impact on your…
Net gifts can be used to reduce gift tax rate
One strategy to lower your taxable estate is lifetime giving. However, there is a gift tax rate of 40 percent. If you have exhausted your $5.43 million gift and estate tax exemption, and you wish to lower your gift taxes,…
Andrew Hook talks to Stretcher about revocable living trusts
In an interview for Stretcher.com, Attorney Andrew Hook explains the meaning of a revocable living trust by dividing the term into its main parts: “revocable,” “living” and “trust.” He describes a revocable living trust as a legal agreement in which…
