With the lifetime gift tax exemption at $5 million and the gift tax rate at 35 percent, now's a perfect time for taxpayers to take advantage of wealth transfer opportunities. But these opportunities aren't endless. Absent intervening legislation...
Lawyers drafting wills and trusts must regularly contemplate age-old issues such as ademption, advancement and lapse, as well as more recent issues such as who is to be considered a under the new biology of assisted reproduction. At common law, a...
WealthCounsel and Trusts & Estates unveiled the preliminary results of their annual electronic survey to identify trends in the industry and to probe the mindset of professional advisors regarding the impact of the economy on their clients...
Generally, most clients want the same thing: control, use and enjoyment of their assets until death and protection of their assets from potential claimants. They also want these same benefits for their family members after they themselves pass...
On June 24, 2011, 42 years after the gay rights movement began with the Stonewall Riots in New York City, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed the Marriage Equality Act into New York State law. After a long political battle and a narrow 33-to-29 vote...
Estate plans originate in a number of ways, but in every one, early on in the process, the client interacts with at least one estate planner who may be an accountant, insurance professional, financial advisor or attorney. Typically, a professional...
The best plans and intentions can be led astray by misconceptions based on erroneous assumptions, especially with philanthropic succession planning. Often, senior or same generation family members don't have a true understanding of one another's...
State governments are, more than ever, struggling to meet budget deficits. But state legislators often find that raising taxes and cutting programs aren't the best ways to get re-elected. Instead, many states have found a new way to plug holes in...
