Estate Map & Estate Planning for Digital Assets

We have partnered with Estate Map https://estatemap.com/ to provide a new service for clients to keep all of their records electronically, detailing their assets, passwords, funeral plans, etc. to pass on if they become incapacitated or if and when they pass away.

Our partnership with Estate Map provides a 20% discount to clients for their first year (making the initial cost $76 instead of $95, and then the $24/year cost applies.  Enter Referral Code: wenzellaw

Also, if you choose to use Estate Map, link us in as your legal advisor, and we can upload your documents, and you can share your information with us if you wish.

There are also many other sites that provide services related to digital assets after your death.  Here are some articles, especially mentioning Facebook accounts.

Article: http://www.lawyersmutualnc.com/blog/data-of-the-dead

List of services: http://www.thedigitalbeyond.com/online-services-list/

Here is some information about Estate Map.  https://estatemap.com/

IRS Announces $5,450,000 estate tax exemption for 2016

The IRS has announced that the inflationary adjustment shall result in an estate tax exclusion of $5,450,000 for those passing away in 2016.

The amount has been $5,430,000 for 2015 so that amount has not increased as much as it had in the past few years.  (2014 $5,340,000)

New Estate/Probate Staff - Joi Frederick

Please help us in welcoming Joi Frederick to our Estate/Probate team.  She joins Tiffany Hudson in working with attorney Sarah P. Wenzel.

Staff Changes

For those of you who have worked with us for years, you may notice some changes around the office.

When you first call the office or come by, you will meet Rachel.  She has a legal assistant degree and is also our receptionist. Please help us in welcoming her to Waynesville and our office, as she helps you.

Tiffany, who has become a familiar face and voice, has moved to the probate and estates department, working for Sarah Wenzel, where she is continuing to assist clients.

Laura, who was with our firm for over 11 years, has moved out of the area.  She will be missed.  If you had been working closely with Laura, Tiffany has taken over her role on many of the estate files, working of course with Sarah.  Tricia is also current on the information on most of those files as well.

Merry Christmas!

2015 Estate Tax

The federal government has issued the numbers for 2015.

If you pass away in 2015, you can leave $5,430,000 free from the estate tax.  This is an increase of $90,000 over 2014 (currently $5,340,000).

The annual gift tax exclusion remains at $14,000 for 2015 per donor per recipient, before the gift begins to reduce the amount you can pass at death.

As previously mentioned, North Carolina has repealed the state estate tax, so even if you pass away with more than $5 million, and you live in North Carolina, you will only have to worry about the federal estate tax.  There is no state estate tax in North Carolina.

Website redesign

Please take a look at our website which we have redesigned. It still needs some work and more info but we believe it is an improvement and headed in the right direction! www.wenzellawfirm.com