Insights on Planned Giving From the BNY Annual Charitable Giving Report for 2024
Once Removed Episode 19: The Step-Transaction Doctrine and the Case of Smaldino
Once Removed Episode 18: The Reciprocal Trust Doctrine
Once Removed Episode 16: Gift and Estate Tax, Inflation Adjustments for 2024
Once Removed Episode 17: Annual Gifting to Individuals: Options, Opportunities and Pitfalls
Taking the Sting Out of Death Taxes with Dylan Metzner, Jones & Keller
Gift Tax Basics
NGE On Demand: GRAT Trusts with Eric Mann
To Give or Not to Give: Considerations for Year-End Gifting
ATTENTION ALL CADETS!
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
The Section 1202 exclusion is one of the most valuable tax planning tools available to U.S. business owners and investors. It allows a non-corporate taxpayer (e.g., an individual or trust) to eliminate federal capital gains...more
President Donald Trump’s massive tax-and-spending package requires attention from both individuals and estate planners to advance their estate and income tax planning objectives. Originally Published by Bloomberg Law. ...more
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law on July 4, 2025, is a sweeping piece of legislation spanning nearly 1,000 pages. It includes significant changes to federal estate and income tax laws that will affect...more
In the months preceding the general election in 2024, the owners of many closely held businesses who had not yet given much thought to the disposition of their future estates, including their businesses, decided they should...more
Experienced trusts and estates attorneys consistently observe how proper planning can mean the difference between a thriving legacy and a fragmented enterprise. For family-owned life insurance businesses, the stakes are...more
President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) into law on July 4, 2025. The OBBBA represents a significant overhaul of the U.S. tax system, making permanent many provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs...more
Last week, President Donald Trump signed into law the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). At nearly 900 pages in length, OBBBA’s size lives up to its name by enacting sweeping changes to estate and gift taxes, income taxes,...more
By way of background, in 2012, the basic exclusion amount and GST exemption were permanently increased to $5 million, with that amount indexed for inflation. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), temporarily increased the...more
On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”) into law. The OBBBA is the tax and budget reconciliation package for the current 2025 fiscal year through 2034. While the bill focuses primarily...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
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference."- The Serenity Prayer- The first 100 days of President Trump’s administration have been...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 April 30, 2025, Katten hosted Loyola University Chicago's Family Business Center for the "Family Business Through a Legal Lens" program. Private Wealth Partner Adam Damerow and Loyola University Chicago School of 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
The recent volatility in the stock market, ongoing trade wars, and talks of further increases to the federal debt ceiling have intensified concerns in recent months around economic uncertainty and the risk of recession. ...more
In our estate planning practice, whether we are helping high-net worth individuals, family-owned business owners or young families, we urge all our clients to avoid these common pitfalls. If you carefully discuss the below...more
The May 2025 Section 7520 rate for use with estate planning techniques such as CRTs, CLTs, QPRTs and GRATs is 5.00%, which is the same as the April 2025 Section 7520 rate...more
A recent Tax Court order highlights the gift and estate planning opportunities afforded when a senior family member makes loans to other family members. In Galli v. Commissioner, Docket Nos. 7003-20 and 7005-20, the Court had...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
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
Springtime is a great time to review your current estate plan or consider creating one. This year brings a number of opportunities for creating an estate plan, pursuing gifting strategies, and considering philanthropic...more
Starting January 1, 2026, many provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”) are set to expire. Among the most significant provisions set to sunset is the increased estate and gift tax exemption, which currently...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