Top Gun: Maverick - Core Estate Plan and Gifting Basics
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
Gift Tax Basics
NGE On Demand: GRAT Trusts with Eric Mann
To Give or Not to Give: Considerations for Year-End Gifting
The 2010 Tax Relief Act and your estate plan
The federal gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax exemptions for 2024 are historically high and present significant tax-free gifting opportunities next year.The gift and estate tax exemptions will increase...more
Although the IRS is now on high alert for wealthy individuals, new and existing planning opportunities are available, such as tax-free gifts and other advantageous planning. Wealthy individuals and families should take...more
From time to time, we provide updates in the estate planning area. While the November 2022 federal elections resulted in a divided Congress that dampens the likelihood of major federal tax legislation, we thought this would...more
There are more estate planning opportunities as a result of inflation-adjusted figures recently released by the IRS. The gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer (“GST”) tax exemption amounts are each increasing to...more
October 2022 Interest Rates for GRATs, Sales to Defective Grantor Trusts, Intra-Family Loans and Split Interest Charitable Trusts - The October applicable federal rate ("AFR") for use with a sale to a defective grantor...more
Our annual estate and tax planning newsletter discusses certain concepts and techniques that should be considered in 2022 by our clients and friends in California. Perhaps the most important recent development was the failure...more
You have probably heard that the House Ways and Means Committee released proposals for increasing gift and estate taxes in order support legislation being advanced by the Democratic majority in Congress. ...more
Recent news stories have been published about two bills introduced in the Senate that, if enacted, could have a significant impact on many estate plans. These bills include proposed changes that many estate planning...more
On March 25, 2021, Senator Bernie Sanders introduced the For the 99.5 Percent Act (the “99.5 Percent Act”) which proposes to modify the estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer tax. Proposed Estate and Gift Tax Rates...more
In 2020, COVID-19, the US presidential election, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the TCJA), and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (the CARES ACT) dominated the planning landscape....more
As we all learn to cope with the unprecedented changes to our daily lives imposed by the COVID-19 crisis, we want to assure you that the Sheppard Mullin estate planning team is thinking of you and stands ready to assist you...more
The current estate planning environment, with low interest rates and high estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax exemptions, provides excellent planning opportunities for wealth transfer tax savings. ...more
As we approach the end of the year, we thought you would find it useful to have the following summary of recent developments and updates that may affect your trust and estate planning....more
As 2012 drew to a close, your estate planning attorney's attention was diverted from the ball drop in Times Square to whether Congress would drop the ball with respect to the fiscal cliff. Congress, however, passed the...more
With the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (the “ATRA ”) passed and the fiscal cliff safely averted, the time has come to turn your attention to your estate plan. What Did the ATRA Accomplish? The fiscal cliff...more
Now that a deal averting the fiscal cliff has finally been reached, many of the tax and planning issues that have been mired in uncertainty for the past two years (and even longer in some cases) may be resolved. Numerous tax...more
We Didn't (Quite) Fall off the Cliff, But We Still Have To Clean up the Mess! When the clock struck midnight on December 31, 2012, estate planning practitioners said "good night" to an unprecedented period of working...more
Congress has averted the so-called fiscal cliff by passing the "American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012" (the "Act") on January 1, 2013, which President Obama signed into law the following day. The good news is we finally have...more
The country was heading for a “fiscal cliff” as the Bush-era tax cuts were scheduled to expire on January 1, 2013. But the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives voted in the final hours to make those tax cuts permanent...more
Now that the election is over, we anticipate having some guidance soon with respect to the numerous tax and planning issues that have been mired in uncertainty for the past two years. Many tax benefits are scheduled to...more
As the current federal estate/gift tax law is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2012, this is an opportune time to take advantage of the planning techniques available under current law and to avoid being subject to newly...more
At the end of 2010, Congress passed, and President Obama signed into law, significant changes in the estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer (“GST”) tax regime. The 2010 tax legislation extended the so-called “Bush Tax...more
Although the end of the year is several months away, it is time to think about taking advantage of the generous tax savings that may be available for 2012 only. The 2010 Tax Act made significant changes to the estate,...more
The last three years have witnessed substantial changes in federal estate and gift tax laws and more changes are undoubtedly coming. Such changes offer a number of opportunities for clients to achieve their estate planning...more
As we enter the second half of 2012, it is important to consider certain time-sensitive estate and gift planning opportunities. The gift and GST tax exemptions were increased to $5,120,000 for 2012 – the highest exemptions in...more