Is Your Old Estate Plan a Time Bomb? Why Credit Shelter Trusts May Be Costing Your Family
By John F. Davenport, Esq. | Davenport & Associates, Norwalk, CT | April 13, 2026 If your estate plan was written before 2018, there is a good chance it contains a provision that was once considered essential but is now, for most families, doing more harm than good. It is called a credit shelter trust,… View Article
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Long-Term Care Costs in 2026: How to Protect Your Assets Before Medicaid Rules Change
By John F. Davenport, Esq. | Davenport & Associates, Norwalk, CT | April 7, 2026 Nobody plans for a nursing home. And then one day, it becomes the only conversation that matters. The average semi-private nursing home room in the United States now costs $114,975 per year. In Connecticut, that number is significantly higher. And… View Article
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Inherited IRA 10-Year Rule in 2026: What Every Beneficiary Must Do to Avoid the 25% Penalty
If you inherited an IRA from a parent, spouse, or loved one after January 1, 2020, the rules changed significantly, and many beneficiaries have no idea. The IRS finalized regulations in 2024 that clarified a critical point: if the original IRA owner had already begun taking Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) before they died, you as… View Article
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Will vs. Revocable Living Trust in 2026: The Difference and Which One Your Family Actually Needs
One of the most common questions I hear from families at their first estate planning meeting is a simple one: Do I need a will or a trust? What is actually the difference? It is a reasonable question. And the honest answer for most families is: you need both. But they do completely different jobs,… View Article
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The Estate Tax Exemption Is Now $15 Million in 2026: Does Your Estate Plan Still Make Sense?
On January 1, 2026, the federal estate tax exemption increased to $15 million per person — $30 million for married couples. It is now permanent, with no scheduled expiration. If you read that and thought, ‘that doesn’t affect me — my estate isn’t anywhere near $15 million,’ I want to stop you right there. Because… View Article
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What Happens If I Die Without a Will in 2026? (Intestate Succession Explained)
One of the most common estate planning fears is: “What happens if I die without a will?” The answer is intestate succession — state laws decide who gets your assets, who raises your kids, and how everything is handled. In 2026, dying without a will (intestate) can create unnecessary delays, costs, and family stress —… View Article
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