Scenario-Specific
Family Loan to Buy a Car: The Lien Step That Protects You Both
A family loan to buy a car can beat bank rates, but only with the right lien, interest rate, and insurance steps. Here is exactly how to structure one.
Aug 19, 2026Read
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Blog
Insights, guides, and updates to help you navigate loans and agreements.
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Scenario-Specific
Family Loan for a Wedding: The $19,000 Number That Decides Gift or Loan
How much wedding money can you gift tax free in 2026, and when should it be a loan instead? The IRS numbers, plus a worked repayment example.
Aug 17, 2026Read
Loan Management
How to Pause a Family Loan During a Hardship: The $10,000 Rule That Keeps It From Becoming a Gift
How to pause family loan payments during a hardship without an IRS gift tax problem. The $10,000 rule, three pause structures explained.
Aug 14, 2026Read
Advanced
Should You Use a HELOC to Lend Money to Family? The Tax Deduction You Won't Get
Thinking about a HELOC to fund a family loan? Here's why the interest isn't deductible, and the real cost before you risk your house.
Aug 12, 2026Read
Tax Guide
Can You Lend Money From Your IRA to a Family Member? Siblings Are Exempt, Your Kids Aren't
Lending IRA money to your spouse or child is a prohibited transaction that can wreck the whole account. See who is exempt and the 401(k) alternative.
Aug 10, 2026Read
Estate Planning
Lending Money to Aging Parents: The POA Conflict Nobody Warns You About
Lending money to aging parents? Learn the loan vs. gift decision, the Medicaid asset-limit trap, and the POA conflict of interest most families miss.
Aug 7, 2026Read
Family Finance
Does a Family Loan Affect Your Credit Score? The Mortgage Risk Nobody Mentions
A family loan usually never touches your credit score. Learn the cosigning exception and how it can still derail a mortgage approval.
Aug 5, 2026Read
Advanced
Seller Financing a Home to a Family Member: The 2-Year Rule That Can Undo Your Tax Savings
Selling your house to your child or sibling with seller financing? Learn the IRS installment sale rules, the AFR interest floor, and the 2-year resale trap.
Aug 3, 2026Read
Legal Guide
Does a Family Loan Need to Be Notarized? No, But 3 Situations Change That
Does a family loan need to be notarized? No, in most cases, but three situations make it worth the trip. Here is when and why.
Jul 31, 2026Read
Advanced
Family Opportunity Mortgage: What Happens When Only One Sibling Signs
A family opportunity mortgage lets you buy a home for an aging parent, but only one sibling can be the borrower. Here is how the rest pay their share.
Jul 29, 2026Read
Tax & Legal
Does a Family Loan Affect SSI Benefits? The Bona Fide Loan Test You Cannot Skip
A family loan can cost an SSI recipient their benefit if it fails SSA's bona fide loan test. The 5-part test, the spend-down trap, and how to document it right.
Jul 27, 2026Read
Legal Guide
What Happens to a Family Loan in Bankruptcy? The One-Year Clawback Rule Both Sides Need to Know
Filing bankruptcy with a family loan on the books? Here's how the one-year insider preference rule affects the borrower and the lender.
Jul 24, 2026Read