John Wick - What You Need To Know about the Corporate Transparency Act
Top Gun: Maverick - Core Estate Plan and Gifting Basics
5 Tips For Writing Conflict Emails
Family Owned Real Estate: Legal Challenges & Opportunities
Digital Planning Podcast Episode: Estate Planning and the Corporate Transparency Act
US Expatriate Tax Planning - Part 2 - A Podcast with Janathan Allen
Once Removed Episode 20: Helping a Beneficiary Purchase a Home
Once Removed Episode 23: Naming Guardians for Minor Children
Once Removed Episode 22: Building Flexibility into the Estate Plan
Once Removed Episode 24: Expressing Goals and Intent for the Trust
Once Removed Episode 21: Passing Down the “Family Cottage” or Other Legacy Property
US Expatriate Tax Planning - Part 1 - A Podcast with Janathan Allen
Once Removed Episode 19: The Step-Transaction Doctrine and the Case of Smaldino
Digital Planning Podcast Episode: Planning for Influencers
Was the classic song “Over The Rainbow” plagiarized? How about a claim of copyright infringement against the script for “The Holdovers?” AI Legal strategies switch to claims of CMI removal
Once Removed Episode 18: The Reciprocal Trust Doctrine
Next Generation Legacy Management - The Essence of Developing, Managing and Implementing a Plan for Future Generations
Life After Love Gone Wrong Podcast: Season 3, Episode 6 - Reshaping Your Legacy: Estate Planning After Your Divorce
Charitable Planning With Guest Stephanie Hood: Navigating Complex Rules and Traps for the Unwary
Digital Planning Podcast Episode: AI Developments - Planning & Practice Considerations
On this episode of “Splitting Heirs,” Warren K. Racusin welcomes back Sharon L. Klein, President of Family Wealth for the Eastern US Region of Wilmington Trust Company and member of the Estate Planning Hall of Fame, to...more
The TCJA doubled the lifetime exclusion and GST tax exemption. This exclusion amount, adjusted for inflation, is now $13.61 million and is expected to be approximately $13.99 million in 2025. However, in 2026, the amount will...more
How often do hopeful beneficiaries of a last will and testament expect to receive what they think will be a valuable bequest of a business interest, only to find their joy turn to despair when they discover the bequest...more
A “qualified disclaimer” is a tax-effective way to refuse a transfer of property that would otherwise occur on someone’s death. From time to time, retirement plan administrators may be contacted by a beneficiary who wants a...more
Welcome to The Verdict: Estate Planning Through Film. In episode two, host Hons Yung is joined by Farella Braun + Martel's Greg LeSaint to discuss the movie John Wick and the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA). Greg breaks...more
The year 2017, when the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was signed into law, seems like a long time ago. As you may be aware, many of the tax provisions of that law are set to expire in a relatively short amount of time — on January 1,...more
Maryland’s Supreme Court declined to overturn the strict privity rule in legal malpractice cases. The rule, which generally bars third parties from suing lawyers, was a key issue in the recent Bennett v. Gentile decision. ...more
As a business advisor, understanding the succession process for business owners can significantly benefit your ability to attract and build a business owner practice successfully. Long-term thinking can be complex for some...more
September 2024 AFRs and 7520 Rate - The September 2024 Section 7520 rate for use with estate planning techniques such as CRTs, CLTs, QPRTs and GRATs is 4.8%, a decrease from the August 2024 rate of 5.2%. The September...more
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
As summer draws to a close, you may find yourself reminiscing about your vacations taken earlier this season. Those vacations may have involved traveling to your second home with your family. If you own a vacation home, now...more
Earlier this year, the California Supreme Court ruled that a trust amendment can be valid even if the trustor did not follow the specific amendment procedure referenced in the trust document itself because the trustor (trust...more
Recently, Michigan added a new section to the trust code, making it possible for trust settlors to create “quiet” or “silent” trusts in Michigan. As the name implies, in a silent trust arrangement, a trustee is not required...more
In Crossley v. Crossley, a plaintiff, who was the beneficiary of, or had the power to designate the beneficiary, in two trusts established by his mother, and he filed suit requesting that the court determine whether he or his...more
Dear Jonathan: My mother, who recently passed away, prepared a trust naming me as her sole beneficiary. She intentionally disinherited my brother due to a falling out they had years ago. Although he knows that he has been...more
Welcome to The Verdict: Estate Planning Through Film. In our first episode, Farella Braun + Martel partner Hons Yung is joined by BNY Wealth senior client strategist and former Navy and Blue Angel pilot C.J. Simonsen to...more
Most closely held businesses, whether organized as a C or S corporation, LLC or partnership, have (or should have) a buy-sell agreement. A buy-sell agreement addresses what happens to an owner’s interest in the business when...more
Celebrities like Jay Leno and Emma Hemming Willis (married to Bruce Willis) are speaking out about their experiences with guardianship and caregiving. If you are caring for a family member with dementia too, a time will...more
The Perpetuities (Amendment) Act, 2024 (the “Act”) has taken effect in the Cayman Islands, providing for the disapplication of the rule against perpetuities for Cayman Islands ordinary trusts. This legislative development...more
The classic children’s tale of Cinderella has the magic spell that transformed Cinderella expiring at the stroke of midnight after the ball. Her magnificent coach turned back into a pumpkin, inspiring a commonly used phrase....more
The proposed regulations update outdated references and information under the current regulations, including references to temporary regulations, IRS officials, offices and addresses. The proposed regulations conform with...more
For most business owners, their business is their baby. They have invested their time, money, and efforts into building something tangible they can be proud of. They know their business inside out and can count on a steady...more
In case you missed our firm’s previous newsletters, a new federal law imposed reporting requirements for many corporations, partnerships, and LLCs. The Corporate Transparency Act (“CTA”) requires companies and their owners to...more
Thoughtful planning and careful implementation are essential to a successful estate plan that preserves wealth in the most tax-efficient manner and fulfills a family’s personal objectives....more
With continuing uncertainty regarding the federal estate tax laws, the Spousal Lifetime Access Trust (SLAT) is a popular option that helps high net-worth individuals maintain flexibility while maximizing their financial...more