Report from Counsel

Step-up in basis at death might go away

The Sensible Taxation and Equity Promotion (STEP) Act would get rid of what’s known as the step-up in basis to tax the unrealized gains of certain estates at death.

Step-up in basis refers to the way the value of an asset is readjusted for tax purposes upon inheritance.

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SECURE Act 2.0 could change retirement

The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, which passed in late 2019, was only the start of changes for the retirement industry. A bipartisan bill, which has been nicknamed “SECURE Act 2.0,” is in the works.

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Collecting Social Security while working

For people who want to work while collecting Social Security, the “retirement earnings test” (RET) rules can be confusing. Some people think they’ll lose out on benefits if they continue to work, but that’s not true.

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Estate planning tips for unmarried couples

If you are in a committed relationship but are not married to your partner, estate planning is essential. Unless you each draft a will and designate the other person as a beneficiary, your assets will pass to other family members and your partner will receive nothing when you die. Further, without proper planning you won’t

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Preparing for an estate planning meeting

When setting up a will and other estate planning documents, many clients are concerned about making the most efficient use of their attorney’s time. While these meetings are bound to raise some questions you hadn’t thought of, there are things you can do to prepare.

The more thought you put into certain goals and wishes (including those below), the easier it is for your attorney to create a set of documents that reflects your intentions.

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Second state passes consumer privacy law

In March 2021, the Consumer Data Protection Act (CDPA) was signed into law in Virginia. Virginia and California now have comprehensive data privacy laws that could impact businesses that interact with citizens of those states.

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