Our clients frequently ask us for advice on how long they need to attain their various records. Often times, the requirements for records retention varies based on the circumstances. For the benefit of our clients as well as you, our readers, the table set forth below will give some general guidelines for record-keeping and documentation. If you have additional questions pertaining to the documentation of legal records or have questions concerning another legal matter, please don’t hesitate to call us – 515-225-1100. By James D. Beatty.
More Legal News & Information... →Section 633.356 of the Iowa Probate Code sets forth a provision that is often overlooked by the estate planning professionals. The provision sets forth a method to avoid probate of an estate in an item of personal property involved is valued at $25,000.00 or less. For example, a person may die with a house titled in joint tenancy with their spouse and have a life insurance policy to their spouse but have a bank account in their individual name. The house passes to the surviving spouse outside of probate due to the fact that the asset is held in joint
More Legal News & Information... →The ABLE Act referred to in last month’s blog was signed by the Governor and becomes law effective July 1, 2016. The Act authorizes the State of Iowa to create savings accounts, similar to the 529 College Saving Plans, to be created for disabled persons prior to age 26. The income earned on such accounts are exempt from Federal income tax if the money is spent for eligible services. The Treasurer of the State of Iowa is drafting the administrative provisions for the Act and will act as the depository for the savings accounts. Also, the Governor signed the Inheritance
More Legal News & Information... →The question was asked of a forester, “what is the best time to plant a tree?” The answer was 40 years ago. The second best time to plant a tree is today. So what is my point? Now that Iowa tax season is behind us, it is appropriate to take time and reflect on how we could have made the process of gathering income tax information less stressful. Gathering information on the income-side is relatively easy. That information is sent to you by a payer of interest or dividends, a K-1 from a partnership or Sub-S Corporation or some other
More Legal News & Information... →Much has been written about the importance and benefits of a person having a Will or a Revocable Trust for the disposition of his or her assets, a Statutory Power of Attorney (Financial Power of Attorney), a Medical Power of Attorney, and a Declaration Concerning Life Sustaining Procedures (a Living Will). There are two other estate planning directives that often get overlooked. They are: A Testamentary Letter; Final Disposition of a Person’s Body. Iowa Code Chapter 633.276 makes provisions for a person who desires to make a specific bequest of tangible personal property may do so by signing what I
More Legal News & Information... →Decision making – everyday has within it many decision-making challenges. Many of those challenges have a crucial moment where action needs to be taken. How do you process the moment? How will you process these moments for the upcoming tax season? At Beatty and Miller, P.C., we help our clients through many challenges and decision-making steps needed during tax time. The process we take, while general in its application, can help tremendously in making tax-based decisions or any important decision-making moment you may face. The three stages of the decision-making process are as follows: Awareness that a decision needs to
More Legal News & Information... →By James D. Beatty Many clients we meet with within Des Moines, West Des Moines, Urbandale, Johnston, Ankeny, Altoona, Carlisle and Norwalk, have an incorrect belief that their Will determines who will inherit all of their assets. Many assets do not pass under a person’s Will. For example, life insurance policies and retirement accounts are typically paid on death to the persons named on the various beneficiary designations on file with the companies. Also, accounts titled as “transfer on death” or “payable on death” will also pass on death to the beneficiaries named on the accounts. Finally, assets which are
More Legal News & Information... →Effective July 1, 2014, the Iowa Uniform Power of Attorney Act became effective. As opposed to the previous law, the new Act provides detailed provisions regarding the setup and operation of a Power of Attorney and the rights and duties of principals (the person who sets up the Power of Attorney), agents (the person who will act on behalf of the principal), and other third parties. The purpose of the Act is to further the use of a Power of Attorney to avoid the need for a setup of a formal court supervised conservatorship. Another purpose of the Act is
More Legal News & Information... →