Can you share an experience where life events, such as marriage or divorce, significantly altered a client's estate tax strategy?

A divorce can be entered into judgment and completed while at the same time retaining for the couple the ability to file taxes jointly thereafter. This can be done in California through a "suspended divorce." That is a divorce that is competed and the agreement is approved by the court and the assets and property is divided just as it would be normally. But as a Certified Divorce Financial Analyst and family law attorney, where I see that clients may benefit by continuing to file taxes jointly after the divorce, I explain the concept of a suspended divorce and it can often have a huge impact. Although the divorce judgment is final, the marital status doesn't terminate which allows the couple to remain jointly insured for healthcare as well as preserving the right to file taxes jointly. These rights preserved by the suspension can be tremendously impactful depending on the particular circumstances.