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
What is an irrevocable trust? It is important to know when to use an irrevocable trust as part of your estate plan. What is the difference between an irrevocable trust and a revocable trust?...more
On August 11, 2025, the United States Supreme Court was asked to reconsider Obergefell v. Hodges, the 2015 decision that federally guaranteed marriage equality for all couples. This new case involves the four-times married...more
For musicians, estate planning is not just about deciding who inherits guitar collections or song royalties. It is about protecting your artistic legacy, ensuring your intellectual property is handled according to your...more
In this episode of Legacy Lessons, Shawn R. McClelland, Partner in our Tax, Trusts, and Estates Practice Group, walks us through one of the most common estate planning questions families face: Should I create a will, or do I...more
The Purple Reign… in Chaos: Netflix, Secrets, and the Fight Over Prince's Legacy...more
A Hollywood Legend’s Final Act: A Lesson in Estate Planning - The world recently bid farewell to legendary actor Gene Hackman, who passed away on February 18, 2025, at the age of 95. Just six days earlier, his wife, Betsy...more
The United States is on the brink of the largest transition of wealth in its history, known as the “Great Wealth Transfer.” By 2045, an estimated $84 trillion in assets will be transferred from baby-boomers to their heirs. In...more
For many families, owning an apartment in Israel – whether as a second home or a cherished holiday retreat – is a lifelong dream. The journey from selecting the right property, navigating the purchase process, and turning a...more
How often should you review your trust and estate plan? Is there a regular cycle to these reviews, or should they be driven by significant events in your life or the lives of your beneficiaries and executor or trustee? How...more
Dear Jonathan: Based on my research, I feel like I’m pretty well versed in what I am supposed to do when it comes to creating an estate plan for myself. Everything I have read says that I should have a will, powers of...more
Welcome to Lost in Translation: Blunders in International Estate Planning; in this blog series, I will delve into the rarified world of international estate planning, shedding light on possible pitfalls and slip-ups. Blunder...more
Domestic partnerships are legal arrangements between two individuals that grant some of the same rights and benefits as marriage. While domestic partnerships are recognized in many states, inheritance rights can differ...more
A well-structured trust is often a central estate planning tool for small businesses and closely held family business owners when passing a business or wealth to your children. This includes heirs, beneficiaries, and future...more
A well-organized inventory is essential for effectively managing and planning the distribution of collectibles, including art. Clients may struggle to track their assets without an inventory, making future distribution and...more
Looking for a way to stop family arguments over politics? Well, who isn’t. A quick way to derail a familial political scuffle: Quietly announce that you want to talk about your will. The silence should be automatic. It’s...more
When most people think of estate planning, Trusts and Last Wills and Testaments usually come to mind. I have spent my career espousing the essential tools for ensuring an efficient transfer of assets from one generation to...more
Each new year offers a chance to step back, recalibrate, and plan for the year ahead. Individuals and businesses alike should take the time to ask and answer some simple questions to ensure their estate and business...more
December 2024 Interest Rates for GRATs, Sales to Defective Grantor Trusts, Intra-Family Loans and Split-Interest Charitable Trusts - The December Section 7520 rate for use in estate planning techniques such as CRTs, CLTs,...more
In the aftermath of Hurricane Florence in 2018, I wrote this article to help individuals and families navigate the legal and financial issues that often follow a devastating storm. I remember the incredible outpouring of...more
What are some of the fundamental issues when estate planning for business owners? Why should every business owner have an estate plan? What are some of the primary issues to address in an effective estate plan for those who...more
Because so many things can change with time, we recommend that our clients review their estate plans every three to five years and update plans as needed. These periodic reviews help to ensure that your affairs are in order,...more
This week, the Court addresses the application of the probate exception to federal-court jurisdiction. The Court holds that the probate-exception bar to federal-court jurisdiction does not apply when a breach-of-contract...more
Although transfer-on-death (TOD) and payable-on-death (POD) designations on financial accounts can be an effective tool to avoid the probate process, these account designations have the potential to derail a customer’s estate...more
The federal estate tax exemption is now $11.4 million per person ($22.8 million/couple), and the New York State estate tax exemption is now $5,740,000 per person. Generally, the exemption amount is the value of assets that...more
When You Hear the Term “Estate Planning”, Do You Think: “I don’t need an estate plan because I don’t have very much,” “My wishes are simple, I can just jot down what I need,” “I know someone who said they used a Will...more