Blog • The Law Firm of Blanche D. Smith, P.C.

Estate Planning Is Essential for Unmarried Couples

By Anna Bierman / April 20, 2020

While estate planning is important for married couples, it is arguably even more necessary for couples that live together without getting married. Without an estate plan unmarried couples won’t be able to make end-of-life decisions...

How Does the Coronavirus Relief Bill Affect Seniors?

By The Law Firm of Blanche D. Smith / April 14, 2020

The $2 trillion economic relief package that Congress passed to help Americans deal with the devastating financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic contains some provisions that affect seniors. In addition to authorizing direct payments to...

New Law Makes Big Changes to Retirement Plans

By The Law Firm of Blanche D. Smith / January 14, 2020

President Trump has signed a spending bill that makes major changes to retirement plans. The new law is designed to provide more incentives to save for retirement, but it may require workers to rethink some of their...

Five Tips for Starting Retirement Planning in Your 50s

By The Law Firm of Blanche D. Smith / November 1, 2019

When it comes to retirement planning, many Americans find themselves underprepared. A majority of baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) and Generation X’ers (born between 1965 and 1978) often end up without retirement savings...

What Is Asset Protection Planning?

By The Law Firm of Blanche D. Smith / October 16, 2019

Asset protection planning is about protecting your assets from creditors -- and it is not just for the super-wealthy. Anyone can get sued. Lawsuits can stem from car crashes, credit card debt, bank foreclosures, or...

A Tax Break to Help Working Caregivers Pay for Day Care

By The Law Firm of Blanche D. Smith / August 6, 2019

Paying for day care is one of the biggest expenses faced by working adults with young children, a dependent parent, or a child with a disability, but there is a tax credit available to help...

Steps to Take in Advance of Death or Disability

By Anna Bierman / July 25, 2019

No one wants to face the fact that our loved ones will not be with us forever. Facing our own mortality is frightening as well. Although none of us wants to contemplate a time when...

A Final Retirement Account Distribution Must Still Be Made After Death

By The Law Firm of Blanche D. Smith / July 19, 2019

Federal law requires that beginning on April 1 of the year after you reach age 70 1/2, you must begin withdrawing a minimum amount from your non-Roth individual retirement account (IRA) or 401(k) accounts. These withdrawals...

What Is the Difference Between a Living Will and a Do-Not-Resuscitate Order?

By The Law Firm of Blanche D. Smith / June 26, 2019

It is a very good idea to create advance directives in order to plan for the possibility that you may one day be unable to make your own medical decisions. In doing so, there can...

The Little-Known Tax on Roth 401(k) Distributions

By The Law Firm of Smith and Smith / June 28, 2018

Employee retirement savings plans come in two main flavors: the traditional 401(k) and the Roth 401(k). The benefit of a Roth 401(k) over a traditional 401(k) after retirement is that distributions from a Roth 401(k)...

Mo Hineline

Smith & Smith are very professional, informative, and relatable with examples and stories to ease the estate planning process. I had the best time at their lunch and learn. Even if you already have your estate planning in place I highly recommend attending a lunch and learn. Thanks Smith & Smith!

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