Thursday, September 23, 2010

RI Elder Care and Probate Laws

New Rhode Island “laws-in-waiting” regarding Probate and Elders


We in Rhode Island have been living in a strange world when it comes to State (RI) estate taxes. If one died or dies after December 1, 2009 with less than $850,000 as a taxable estate, one would owe no estate taxes. It looks like an exemption on the first $850,000, doesn’t it? But if one dies after December 1, 2009 and has $850,001 as a taxable estate, one is currently taxed on the entire $850,001.

Only in Rhode Island do we see legal consequences like this one!

The legislature in its infinite wisdom is now trying to fix this problem by passing a bill retroactive to December 1, 2009 which will establish a $25,200 estate tax credit effectively eliminating the existing tax. (Senate Bill 2195, House Bill 7611 and House Bill 7612) Another Senate Bill (2115) would increase the estate tax exemption to $1,000,000 effective 1/1/2011 and further increases it to $2,000,000 effective 1/1/2012. The tax would then be eliminated beginning January 1, 2013. There are other offerings before our legislature.

We will keep you posted.

With thanks to CATIC (title insurance company) for helping us with these interesting “news-flashes”. I suggest that we all call our legislator(s) and urge them to clarify these issues and to make RI more business-friendly and taxpayer-friendly by eliminating the estate tax.

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The Law Offices of Jeremy W. Howe, LTD. are ElderLaw attorneys in Rhode Island who specialize in Wills and Trusts, Estate Planning, Guardianship, Probate, and Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefits.

They also are Newport Rhode Island Divorce Lawyers, Attorneys, Mediators, and Arbitrators providing services for Family Law issues such as Divorce, Child Custody and Visitation, Support, and Military Family Law. 

Call them today at 401-841-5700 or visit them on the web at http://www.CounselFirst.com.

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