C Corp - Imagine a closely held and growing start-up business (“Corp”) that was recently incorporated under state law and, so, is treated as a regular C corporation for purposes of the federal income tax. Thus, Corp will pay...more
When creating a trust, determining who you want to serve as trustee(s) and benefit from the trust as beneficiaries are decisions that need to be made for every trust. The role of “trust protector” may not be as commonly known...more
The recent case of Richard Simmons, the beloved and iconic fitness guru, is a notable example of the conflicts that can arise when co-trustees are appointed to manage an estate. Co-trustees need to work together in order to...more
The Cayman Islands is one of the leading jurisdictions for the establishment and management of trusts. It has a sophisticated professional trust sector, modern trusts legislation and an effective judicial system. There is a...more
It is important to update your trust and estate plan regularly to protect your interests and meet the changing requirements of your future while integrating changes in law and best practices to provide for every potential...more
Recently, much has been written about Rupert Murdoch’s petition to amend his Nevada irrevocable trust to grant his eldest son, Lachlan, voting control over News Corp and Fox Corporation. While the battle between family...more
August is “National Make-a-Will” Month, the perfect opportunity to seriously consider your estate plan. Many delay this crucial task due to common misconceptions about what an estate involves. Here, we delve deeper into what...more
Do you employ an irrevocable trust or trusts as part of your estate plan? You need to review your irrevocable trust to ensure it still delivers the benefits intended. It is generally possible to modify an irrevocable trust,...more
Most US homeowners and business owners understand the importance of an estate plan; they just never seem to get around to completing the task. What do you need to know about a trust? Why are trusts a central component of any...more
The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) is effective on January 1 and requires "Reporting Companies" to disclose specific information to the US Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Below is a...more
Reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) will go into effect beginning January 1, 2024. Under the CTA, many business entities formed or registered in the US will be required to provide the personal...more
What are the most important elements of estate and tax planning for US expatriates? Are you planning to move out of the United States? Are you a US taxpayer who lives and works outside of the country? What are some of the...more
According to the 2023 Wills and Estate Planning Survey by Caring.com, only 34 percent of Americans have an estate plan. The primary reasons respondents gave for not participating in estate planning are:.....more
Family Offices that serve high-net-worth individuals have been in recent global headlines as governments target them in an effort to tax corporate and individual gains....more
Trusts - Trusts play an important role in estate and tax planning. A trust is a fiduciary arrangement that allows a trustee to hold legal title to assets for the benefit of a beneficiary. The beneficiary is, in turn, said...more
As we prepare for the Halloween season, there are many reasons to be on edge. These fears may involve ghosts and goblins for some, while others may view estate planning as frightening. Although I have yet to find an effective...more
House Democrats recently released additional legislative proposals that, if passed, would affect several commonly used estate planning techniques. Among those proposals are three that would significantly impact some of the...more
Being asked to serve as the trustee of the trust of a family member is a great honor. It means that the family member trusts your judgment and is willing to put the welfare of the beneficiary or beneficiaries in your hands. ...more
Four months into the 117th United States Congress, the anticipated federal legislative proposals to restructure the federal estate tax are finally seeing the light of day. Senator Bernie Sanders and others recently...more
The recent introduction of Senator Bernie Sanders’s proposed tax reform bill, the “For the 99.5% Act,” brings the possibility of unprecedented changes to the tax and estate planning landscape by reducing existing federal...more
In a previous post, we discussed the tax implications for U.S. beneficiaries who receive a distribution from a foreign trust. That discussion assumed that the trust in question was, in fact, a foreign trust for U.S. federal...more
Many clients create an estate plan, then put the documents safely away, until they are needed. However, they have forgotten to complete one final important step. Trust funding is the most overlooked estate planning tool....more
The death of a loved one or close friend is a traumatic experience. In addition to the emotional anguish, those who are charged with dealing with the decedent’s personal and financial affairs following death are often left...more
Certain irrevocable trusts created by Minnesota residents after 1995 may be able to claim income tax refunds as a result of the Minnesota Tax Court’s decision in Fielding v. Commissioner of Revenue, handed down on May 31,...more
In 2016, we continued to experience a period of relative stability in our federal transfer tax system and have been able to plan without expecting imminent significant changes to the system. Under the American Taxpayer Relief...more