Charitable Giving in Allentown, Pennsylvania

Find the right Charitable Giving attorney in Allentown, PA

In Allentown, Pennsylvania, "charitable giving" refers to the act of transferring money or property, for selfless motives. It necessarily means that the donor does not plan on receiving any direct compensation for whatever they have given.

In life, charitable giving typically simply involves writing a check or handing cash over to the charitable organization of the donor's choice.

What if, on the other hand, a donor wishes to give everything they own (or a substantial chunk of everything they own) to a charity? This is quite generous, of course, but it's rarely possible during life, considering the expenses and commitments we all have. On the other hand, most people don't think they'll be needing their money after they die. Knowing this, many arrangements have been created authorizing a person to have as much of their money as they want transferred to a charity of their choice after their death.

If you want to make a donation that's effective after your death, there are a few ways to do this. The most prevalent method is also the simplest: leaving the charity whatever property you want to give to it in your will - this is known as a "testamentary gift."

Charitable Trusts in Allentown, Pennsylvania

Legal arrangements identified as "charitable trusts" are also utilized to give large amounts of money to charity. It can be used to make the gift quickly, or it can be set to take effect after the donor's death.

Under a charitable trust, the money going to the charity technically still belongs to the donor. Nonetheless, the charity, acting as a trustee, has power to use it for charitable purposes (what the money can and can't be utilized for should be clearly laid out in the trust).

The most customary kind of charitable trust in Allentown, Pennsylvania is a charitable remainder trust. This permits you to give as much money or property as you want to a charity. The money is then invested by the charity. The investments are typically fairly conservative, sacrificing large returns for security. The charity then returns a portion of these returns to the donor, or another person named by the donor, while keeping the rest. This lasts for a set period of time, at the end of which the charity gets complete ownership of the original fund.

Wanting to help a charitable cause is, of course, a good thing. Nonetheless, some people seek to take advantage of our good intentions through fraudulent charities. If you want to help ensure that any money you donate to an organization is directly used for a charitable cause, and that your donation will be tax-deductible, you should check to see that the organization is truly tax-exempt. You can find this information from the IRS and/or the agency accountable for taxation in

Do I Need a Allentown, Pennsylvania Attorney?

Making a substantial charitable donation is a generous and admirable act. Nonetheless, good intentions don't always lead to good results. To guarantee that your donation has the most positive impact possible, you should discuss the matter in detail with representatives of the organization(s) you want to donate to. It might be advantageous to have an Allentown, Pennsylvania lawyer handle these negotiations on your behalf, since they will likely understand the legal and financial complexities involved.

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Life in Allentown

Allentown, Pennsylvania is a historic town located in an area known as "Lehigh Valley". The city is best known for its large number of century-old industrial complexes, commercial structures, and historic homes.

Much of Allentown's distinctive residential architecture is concentrated in its historic district of West Park. West Park is part of a larger community known as Center City. Center City in Allentown, Pennsylvania is comprised of "stately homes" featuring Victorian and Craftsman styles of homebuilding. Federal rowhomes are also common in Allentown. The city also boasts one America's best park systems. The city's park system was influenced by the "City Beautiful" planning movement in the 1890's and early 1900's.

The culture of Allentown is largely influenced by old-world German heritage that stretches back centuries. In particular, Allentown cuisine features many traditional treats that are exemplary of "Dutch Pennsylvania" culture. Allentown, Pennsylvania is an excellent city to visit, as it hosts many events and attractions. Some events and destinations include the Mayfair Festival of the Arts, the Baum School of Art, and the Allentown Symphony Hall.

Lawyers in Allentown, Pennsylvania are available to assist residents in a number of legal fields. Allentown lawyers are familiar with the unique set of laws that govern the city. Experienced lawyers are able to assist Allentown residents with questions, legal complaints, and inquiries.

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