“Can we talk?” That was the catchphrase that made Joan Rivers famous. And now it seems that her family’s asked the same question of an estate planning attorney — and they’re getting good advice.
Last month, we told you all about Joan River’s elaborate estate plans. Even in death, the comedy titan left us all laughing with her over-the-top burial demands.
But family, friends, and advisors report that Rivers worked carefully with her estate planning team in the later years of her life. A series of strategic decisions, coupled with an extraordinarily successful career, have left her loved ones in very good hands.
Forbes magazine recently looked at Rivers’ estimated net worth at the time of her passing. Their reporters determined that, while her estate will certainly cut a big check to the government, Rivers’ tax liability could have been a whole lot larger.
As it turns out, one of her smartest deductions was the funeral itself. Yes, all those epic plans that Rivers left behind (ranging from a sobbing Meryl Streep to a wind machine) qualify for tax deductions. And while the actual memorial may not have been quite as gratuitous as she had jokingly insisted, it was by all accounts a lavish farewell — a ceremony fit for a queen.
Of course, you don’t have to be a member of Hollywood royalty to make smart decisions about your will. An Arizona estate planning attorney can help you draft documents to effectively minimize the tax burden your family might otherwise face when you die. You can even plan your funeral in advance if you wish — just like Joan.
If you’re interested in learning more about your own estate and the available opportunities for savings, contact the experienced legal team at Kamper, Estrada & Simmons today.
