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John Dedon Named Top Financial Advisor by Washingtonian Magazine

In the March 2022 publication, John Dedon was again chosen by his peers and Washingtonian Magazine as one of the  “Top Financial Advisors,” in the Estate Attorney section, for Virginia, Maryland and the District.  John has been selected consistently for over a decade, and is routinely named as well for Washingtonian’s “Top Lawyers.”

John Dedon Again Recognized by Washingtonian Magazine as a Best Lawyer and Top Wealth Advisor

In the December 2020 issue, John Dedon is again recognized by Washingtonian Magazine as a Top Trusts and Estates Attorney. Washingtonian Magazine chooses Best Lawyers by surveying nearly 1,000 attorneys recognized on a prior year’s list, asking whom they consider best among their peers. Coming up in the January 2021 issue, John will also again… Read »

Fundamental Estate Planning Needs Interview

I was recently interviewed regarding fundamental estate planning needs and the appropriate tools to accomplish your objectives. Below is the link to the interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPP6wiPj6H0

John Dedon Recognized by Prominent Local Publications as Top Attorney

Last month, John Dedon received two important and continuing recognitions as a Top Attorney in the financial planning and estate planning areas of law. Northern Virginia Magazine named John a Top Lawyer in the financial area of law. Top Lawyers by Northern Virginia Magazine is an annual peer-reviewed list based on surveys of other lawyers’… Read »

Best Lawyers 2020

We are pleased to announce the 2020 Edition of The Best Lawyers in America© has named Sunny Cameron, Tim McEvoy and John Dedon as Best Lawyers. Best Lawyers has published their list for over three decades, earning the respect of the profession, the media, and the public as the most reliable, unbiased source of legal… Read »

Mr. Crummey: A Legend in Gift and Estate Tax

I have previously written about the $15,000 annual exclusion, and Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (“ILIT’S”). ILIT’S are created primarily to own life insurance and remove the death benefit from the insured’s taxable estate. To achieve the desired estate tax benefit, premiums must be paid by the Trustee on behalf of the ILIT as the policy… Read »

Using Irrevocable Trusts to Eliminate Estate Tax on Insurance

Irrevocable Trusts, “ILIT” – short for Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust – are created to own life insurance policies. The significant advantage of having insurance policies owned inside an ILIT is that the death proceeds are not included in the insured’s taxable estate upon his death. Further, the death proceeds are not taxable in the surviving… Read »

Asset Titling and Beneficiary Designations – As Important as Your Estate Documents

When individuals consider how assets pass upon death, they immediately think of Wills (and perhaps Revocable Trusts for probate avoidance). What often is not considered, and even misunderstood, is that even if individuals have executed valid Wills, their wishes may not be respected. Why – because those estate documents will not generally supersede asset titling… Read »

Don’t Forget the Basics: Annual Exclusion Gifts

The annual exclusion gift amount remains at $15,000 for 2019. The annual exclusion gift is the amount that you can give to any recipient during the calendar year without gift tax consequence. For example, in 2019, if husband and wife have two children, they each can give $15,000 to each child, total of $60,000. Upon… Read »

Special Needs Trusts: Estate Planning is more than Tax Planning

Estate planning involves more than avoiding probate and estate taxes. Probate can be avoided by using Revocable Living Trusts. Estate taxes are not a concern for most U.S. taxpayers with the gift and estate tax exemption now at $11.4 million per person. Because of “portability,” a husband and wife can either gift or pass upon… Read »