Once the difficult decision to divorce has been made, the parties must consider whether or not to litigate or use Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). Deciding whether a family’s unique circumstances are best suited for litigation or ADR will determine the time expended, emotional toll taken, and financial cost of a divorce. Other factors to consider in the decision include the ability to retain more control over the process, privacy, finality, and the impact on preserving relationships.
Family trustees often struggle with balancing their fiduciary duty of informing younger beneficiaries about trusts established for their benefit with their concern that the information would distract them from the experiences of learning, earning a living, and establishing their own independence.
Are you maximizing the benefits of your charitable giving? According to Giving USA, an annual report on American philanthropy, charitable giving in our country reached a record $373.3 billion in 2015. There are a variety of reasons why people are motivated to give to charity. Philanthropy provides psychological and financial rewards to the donor. It can be used as a platform for teaching children the importance of giving back to their community, and serve as a means for leaving a legacy to future generations. Charitable giving is also an important component of income tax planning. Using a donor advised fund (DAF) can facilitate multiple giving strategies and increase the impact of your giving so that your charitable dollars can go further.
