Unless Iowans have a legal designation, the surviving spouse is the decision-maker on where (and how) burial will take place.

During the 1970s, many farm operations were incorporated for succession planning purposes. Today, the number of corporations that own Iowa farmland has soared.

The economic substance doctrine states that a transaction’s tax benefits will not be allowed if the transaction does not have economic substance.

Dad wants the family farm to continue in the hands of a family member, even if it means that special privileges and breaks are given to the one family member that are not given to other family members. Mom wants the children to be treated equally. Period.

Frequently, a deceased employee will have a spouse (with one or more dependents) who may have an urgent need for cash and request that the final paycheck be paid directly to him or her.