Once Removed Episode 19: The Step-Transaction Doctrine and the Case of Smaldino
Once Removed Episode 18: The Reciprocal Trust Doctrine
Charitable Planning With Guest Stephanie Hood: Navigating Complex Rules and Traps for the Unwary
Once Removed Episode 16: Gift and Estate Tax, Inflation Adjustments for 2024
Once Removed Episode 17: Annual Gifting to Individuals: Options, Opportunities and Pitfalls
Once Removed Episode 12: SLATs and the Case of McKim vs. McKim
Once Removed Episode 11: Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts, or SLATs
Once Removed Episode 10: Trustee Removal and Case Update on Leo Kahn Revocable Trust
(A)ESOP's Fables - The Income and Estate Tax-Free ESOP
The Renoir Spelling Bee
Taking the Sting Out of Death Taxes with Dylan Metzner, Jones & Keller
RETURN TO FOREVER - What Game Shall We Play Today?
To Give or Not to Give: Considerations for Year-End Gifting
INTRODUCING MALTA SPLIT DOLLAR
THE PAPER CHASE
With a Little Help from My Friends
The Greatest Gift: Your Individual + Family Estate Plan
Today’s federal estate and gift tax laws may be remembered as the most generous to wealthy families since the Great Depression. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) doubled the federal estate, gift, and generation skipping...more
Individuals considering moving to the United States should be aware of the tax consequences of becoming a U.S. resident and take advantage of tax planning opportunities before moving here. George McCormick discusses these...more
In addition to the federal estate tax, which may be levied upon a decedent’s estate, New York imposes a separate state estate tax regime. Generally a decedent’s estate is subject to the New York State estate tax if such...more
In a significant legislative shift, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 doubled the exemption amounts for estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes (collectively known as “Death Taxes”). As of 2024, the federal...more
Any estate planning attorney will tell you that certain years stick out in their professional lives more than others. Here are some recent examples...more
In 2024, the federal estate, gift, and Generation Skipping Transfer tax exemption amount increased from $12.92 million to $13.61 million per individual (a combined $27.22 million for a married couple), representing an...more
The start of a new year is a great time to review your current estate plan or consider creating one. 2024 brings a number of opportunities for creating an estate plan, pursuing gifting strategies, and considering...more
A New Year is upon us, it is an election year, and a rollback of the federal estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes is scheduled for the not too distant future. State and federal estate and gift taxes are an...more
Current tax laws provide historically high exclusion amounts for the federal estate and generation skipping transfer tax. These exclusion amounts, however, are slated to sunset by roughly 50% at the end of 2025. ...more
The federal estate and gift tax exemption (the combined amount you can give away to beneficiaries other than your spouse or charities during life and at death without paying gift or estate tax) is increasing to $13.61 million...more
When it comes to passing wealth to the next generation, one of the most powerful tools in our toolbox is the use of your lifetime gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer tax (GST) exemption amounts. While the...more
Governor Maura Healey signed a tax relief package into law on October 4, 2023, making changes to how the Massachusetts estate tax is calculated. The new law doubles the Massachusetts estate tax exemption from $1 million to...more
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey signed a bill on October 4, 2023 amending the state’s estate tax law. INCREASED MASSACHUSETTS ESTATE TAX EXEMPTION AMOUNT For individuals dying on or after January 1, 2023, the new law...more
Today, Wednesday, October 4, 2023, Governor Maura Healey signed Bill H. 4104 into law, creating a Massachusetts estate tax exemption of $2,000,000....more
When working with an estate planning advisor, it’s critical to disclose all your assets. Importantly, any foreign assets you might have must be included. Often, people assume that these assets aren’t relevant to their “U.S.”...more
Estate planning professionals help clients look ahead and anticipate future contingencies. By necessity, however, estate plans are crafted based on laws and circumstances existing at the time they are put in place. This...more
Death taxes are essentially a punishment for being successful. Working for your whole life to build a legacy, only for the government to take a portion when you pass away....more
In establishing and funding an irrevocable trust, a common question is who is responsible for the income tax liabilities associated with the trust? Many individuals assume that the trust is a separate and independent...more
In the movie The Pink Panther Strikes Again, Inspector Clouseau asks a hotel clerk standing near a dog whether his dog bites. The clerk says no. Clouseau reaches down to pet the dog. The dog bites his hand....more
As the end of the calendar year approaches, we would like to remind our clients of some year-end estate planning ideas to consider. A person can currently make annual gifts of up to US$16,000 per recipient to an unlimited...more
The federal estate tax exemption provisions are set to expire at the end of 2025, potentially requiring more people to pay estate taxes. In view of the uncertainty of the estate tax laws, it is important to have estate...more
A critical estate planning decision is whether to transfer wealth during your lifetime or keep your assets in your estate and transfer your wealth to loved ones after your death. Some say it would be wise to make gifts now to...more
High-net worth individuals have an opportunity to take advantage of high transfer tax exemptions if they act fast. Set to expire in 2026, unless Congress acts sooner, the time is now to implement strategies that make the most...more
There has been a lot of talk since September 2021 about the Build Back Better Act, which included some major tax increases. According to U.S. Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia, this Act is dead—and I think that is the most...more