Yearly Archives: 2008

Estate Tax Reform?

As many of you already know, Congress partially repealed the federal estate tax by eliminating the federal estate tax for estates of individuals dying during 2010. Prior to the elimination set for 2010, the estate tax was gradually reduced over the years from 2001 to 2009,… Continue reading

Federal Removal

Early in our history there was fierce independence on the part of the individual states making up our republic.  On the one hand, the states were sovereign governments; on the other, they were each players in a larger national government. The federal court system was… Continue reading

Tax Changes for 2008

  Here is a brief summary of some of the more important federal tax changes for calendar year 2008:   The social security taxable wage base increases from $97,500 to $102,000. The limit for contributions to a traditional or Roth IRA increases from $4,000 to… Continue reading

Terminating Parental Rights

Courts consider the rights of a parent to be fundamental.  Even so, each state has laws providing for the termination of parental rights.  The severing of parental rights ends the legal parent-child relationship. Whether it is voluntary or involuntary, termination of parental rights can only… Continue reading