AFJ Law, PLLC

05/28/2026

I’ll be in Alaska soon (June 4-24) and am opening a few days for in-person estate planning/business consultations while I’m there. If you'd like to meet to talk about legal work grab a spot on my calendar!

05/28/2026

The lifetime exemption is a "single bucket" of tax-free money. Every taxable gift you give while alive lowers the amount you can leave tax-free at death. In 2026, you get a massive $15M total, just remember, use it now or use it later, it all comes from the same pot!

05/26/2026

Think of "lifetime gifting" as a legal way to shrink your taxable estate while you're still here to see the impact. By giving assets away now, you lower your total value—meaning the IRS gets a smaller cut later and your loved ones get their inheritance early.

05/21/2026

Essentially, the government only starts taking a cut once your total estate, everything you own from your home to your investments, crosses a certain multi-million dollar threshold. If your estate is under that number the IRS stays out of your inheritance entirely!

Why it matters for 2026:
With the current exemption sitting at over $15 million per person, most families won't owe a dime in federal estate taxes. However, these rules can change, so "fitting" under the limit today is why we plan for tomorrow.

05/20/2026

A little sneak peak into the process of finalizing a signed estate plan!

05/19/2026

Back in the day, wealthy families realized they could avoid one "round" of estate taxes by leaving their money directly to their grandchildren instead of their children. This way, the money only got taxed once (at the grandparent's death) instead of twice.

05/18/2026

Heading north!!
I'll be in Alaska June 4–24 and would love to meet with clients in person while I'm there. Whether it's starting an estate plan, refreshing an old one, or finally asking the questions you've been putting off.

Link in bio to book a time or book on my website

We create custom-tailored estate plans to secure your legacy.

05/15/2026

Learn about the difference between the Federal and State estate taxes.

05/14/2026

Think of a valuation discount as a "sticker price reduction" that the IRS allows when you're calculating the value of a family-owned or private business for estate tax purposes.

Even if a business is worth millions on paper, the law recognizes that owning a piece of a private company isn't the same as owning a stack of cash or a public stock like Apple.

05/13/2026

Irrevocable trusts are another device we use to remove property from an individual or couple's estate if we are trying to mitigate estate tax. There are lot of things to consider when designing an irrevocable trust - taxes are just one of those.

05/12/2026

Pro-tip: You don’t have to own everything to benefit from it. 🧠 Irrevocable trusts allow you to remove assets from your taxable estate, potentially saving your family a fortune in estate taxes down the road. It’s all about the structure!