When Pope Leo XIV ascended to the papacy as the first American citizen to hold the role, he also inherited an unexpected complication: U.S. tax obligations. From FBAR filings on Vatican accounts to potential exit taxes, his citizenship raises critical legal, diplomatic, and symbolic questions. This post explores whether renouncing U.S. citizenship is the only viable path to preserve the independence of the Holy See—and the integrity of the papal office.
Navigating Debt and Creditor Claims in North Carolina Estate Administration When someone passes away in North Carolina, their debts don’t simply vanish. Instead, they become part of a legal process known as estate administration or probate, where an executor or personal representative is responsible for settling these obligations before any […]
For high-net-worth families, preserving every available estate tax exemption is essential to protecting generational wealth. When one spouse passes away, the Deceased Spousal Unused Exemption (DSUE) allows the surviving spouse to inherit any unused portion of the federal estate tax exemption—potentially safeguarding millions in assets from future taxation. However, this opportunity is only available through timely filing of IRS Form 706. In this post, we explain how portability works, why it matters for affluent families, and how strategic planning can ensure your legacy remains intact for future generations.
When a Simple Will Isn’t So Simple After All Estate tax problems usually show up after it’s too late to ask questions. Someone dies, the dust settles, and the family discovers the “simple” estate plan wasn’t built to handle a complex estate. What sounded like a streamlined solution, joint ownership, […]
The Simplest Way to Transfer a Home Without Full Probate Most North Carolina families expect that when a loved one passes away, the courts will be involved, especially when a will is involved, or real estate is left behind. But when the only remaining asset is a house, the traditional […]