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
The recently enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) brings sweeping and permanent changes to the federal estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax landscape. Most notably, it significantly increases the...more
Thanks to three primary revenue bills that were signed into law earlier this year, taxes are going up in the state of Washington, in particular for large service businesses, estates and individuals earning capital gains. ...more
As you may be aware, on July 4, 2025, a landmark piece of tax legislation – commonly referred to as “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” – was signed into law, ushering in some of the most significant changes to the tax code in...more
In uncertain economic times, many individuals are concerned about the value of their investments, and for good reason. When the stock market dips or real estate prices fall, the effect isn’t just felt in personal investment...more
An Agency Under Siege - The mission statement of the IRS reminds taxpayers that it is their responsibility to understand and meet their tax obligations, while it is the role of the IRS to “enforce the [tax] law with...more
It is not uncommon for family members to lend a helping hand to one another through intrafamily loans. While loans can benefit family borrowers who may not qualify for a traditional loan or who need flexible payment...more
For ultra-high-net-worth individuals (UHNWIs) whose estates far exceed the 2025 federal lifetime exemption of $13.99 million per person, the stakes for estate and asset protection planning have never been higher-or more...more
On May 22, 2025, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed the House budget reconciliation bill (H.R. 1) (the “House Bill”) by a party-line vote of 215 – 214. The House Bill, which includes significant tax law...more
Every conveyance of property or of an interest in property from one person to another is prompted, or at least influenced, by economic considerations. The parties to the transaction may swap properties, or one party may...more
Jim Irsay, the longtime owner and CEO of the Indianapolis Colts, died unexpectedly in May 2025. Irsay leaves behind not only a legacy in the NFL but also a sports franchise valued at approximately $4.4 billion. As Irsay’s...more
Facing a projected budget deficit of $12 to $16 billion, Governor Bob Ferguson signed several bills into law this week which will significantly increase taxes in Washington State. An overview of the increases to Business and...more
Sweeping legislative changes are reshaping Washington state’s tax landscape. On May 20, 2025, Washington’s governor signed legislation significantly increasing the Business and Occupation (B&O) tax, sales tax, and more,...more
Residence may seem to be a relatively simple thing to determine. It’s where you live, right? Well, leave it to the Internal Revenue Code to complicate this question. There are different tests for residency when it comes to...more
The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “TCJA”) brought significant changes to the federal estate and gift tax laws, marking a pivotal shift in the landscape of estate planning and wealth transfer. Enacted on December 22, 2017,...more
As lawmakers advance toward the critical 2025 tax cliff, a key—and increasingly contentious—policy question is coming into sharper focus: What should Congress assume about the future when it scores the cost of extending the...more
Welcome to “Lost in Translation: Blunders in International Estate Planning.” This blog series explores the rarified world of international estate planning, uncovering potential pitfalls and providing insights to navigate the...more
A parent will sometimes transfer money to a child to enable the child to make an investment that the child could not otherwise make on their own. For example, the child may have identified an attractive business opportunity...more
In our previous blog post on the 2025 Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, we highlighted the concept of purpose trusts, a conference topic involving unique planning and charitable opportunities. In this second post of...more
As the clock ticks down to the end of 2025, the impending sunset of key provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) looms large, threatening tax hikes for millions of Americans. With Congress at a crossroads, the...more
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently issued Private Letter Ruling (PLR) 202504006, addressing several important estate and gift tax questions related to the division of a marital trust and the subsequent disclaimer of...more
Now’s the time to review your GST tax exposure Absent congressional action this year, the federal gift and estate exemption and the generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax exemption (currently $13.99 million) are scheduled...more
As we approach the end of the first quarter of 2025, estate planners and their clients are closely monitoring developments in Washington, D.C. The scheduled sunset of the increased estate and gift tax exemption is now less...more
At $13.99 million for 2025, the federal estate tax exclusion is the largest it has ever been, but it will be reduced by half in 2026, which you can read more about in this advisory....more
In the Soundtrack of Our Lives, one of the songs that I still get to hear from time to time on Sirius XM, is “Still the One” which was recorded and released by the band Orleans in 1976. I was in the tenth grade just to be...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