TAX BLOG

Digital Assets: A Call to Action explains how online accounts and digital property have become a routine but difficult part of estate planning. Based on a survey of more than 500 STEP members worldwide, it shows how families and advisers struggle to deal with social media, email, cloud storage, and cryptocurrencies after death or incapacity, often facing access problems, inconsistent platform rules, and emotional stress when photos and messages are locked away. The report the

A Cook Islands trust is presented as a strategic option for high risk professionals and families who want strong protection from future and existing creditors while preserving wealth for heirs. The article explains that foreign court judgments are not recognized, creditors must start fresh litigation in the Cook Islands within a short period, and they face strict proof requirements and high legal costs, which together create a strong deterrent. It also notes that trusts can l

No contest clauses, or forfeiture clauses, allow a will or trust to cut out a beneficiary who challenges its terms, which makes them a strong deterrent in contentious families and high value structures. This video explains how these clauses work in practice and why their legal force is much less straightforward, with enforceability varying across jurisdictions and depending on statute, public policy and judicial attitude. Moderator Scott E. Rahn TEP and speakers Simon Taube K