Foundation Brings Rare Suit Over Rescinded Pledge

Foundation Brings Rare Suit Over Rescinded Pledge - WealthManagement.com (JEH: This is a case against the estate of the Redken hair products founder over a $5 million pledge made in 2007 that was later revoked in 2013, allegedly based on the donor's displeasure with a change in the hospital's administration and its potential sale. As the article accurately points out, most charitable organizations do not litigate these types of cases, even if they could likely prevail, because of the perceived public relations price. A PDF version of the complaint is available here.)

Why Your Married Clients Should Probably File Federal Estate Tax Returns

Why Your Married Clients Should Probably File Federal Estate Tax Returns (Regardless of the size of their estates) - WealthManagement.com ("In the past several years, federal estate tax exemptions, as low as $1.5 million as recently as 2005, have ballooned to the current level of $5.43 million (indexed for inflation)....")

A New Tax Break for Married Couples

A New Tax Break for Married Couples - WSJ.com > Markets > Your Money > Tax Report (JEH: Overview of final regulations on federal transfer tax portability rules (the fundamental aspects of which were enacted in 2010 and made "permanent" in 2012), along with "crucial caveats," such as filing a federal estate tax return, IRS Form 706, after the first spouse's passing in order to make the portability election)

Independent Legacies: Wills of Our Founding Fathers

Independent Legacies: Wills of Our Founding Fathers ("The founding fathers provided a rich legacy for the nation, drafting and implementing key documents, such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, that frame what is today’s governmental structure. But many of these same men also left behind wills that included bequests and estates that would go on to provide additional support.")