You'd think that with interest rates at historic lows, assets highly undervalued and the prospect of a permanent estate tax, we estate planners would be deep in tax-planning sessions with clients
It seems counterintuitive, but qualified personal residence trusts (QPRTs) can make a lot of sense now. QPRTs are generally not considered effective in a low interest rate environment.
Transferring a personal residence to a qualified personal residence trust (QPRT) is a common estate-planning technique used to make an inexpensive gift of a residence to the next generation. QPRTs may be particularly attractive now. The bursting...
It's well settled in American jurisprudence governing trust administration that the trustee's duties of due care and prudence in holding and managing trust assets include the duty to diversify investments.
On Jan. 1, 2009, the federal estate tax applicable exclusion amount jumped from $2 million to $3.5 million the most significant increase since the passage of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 (EGTRRA).
We practice law because it is interesting, challenging, we are good at it, and we are professionals. We also practice law because it is our business. As in any business, we expect that fees charged should equal fees collected and feel a certain...
File this under “Financial Planning 101.” What to do when a big client’s big bonus and severance package may be the future legal target of disgruntled employees and shareholders?
Despite her sole discretion over a trust, a decedent did not possess at the time of her death a general power of appointment over property in the trust. In Technical Advice Memorandum 200847015 (July 30, 2008), the decedent's husband's will...
Despite her sole discretion over a trust, a decedent did not possess at the time of her death a general power of appointment over property in the trust. In Technical Advice Memorandum 200847015 (July 30, 2008), the decedent's husband's will...
