One of the challenges facing owners of closely held businesses is how to preserve their business legacy in the event of their death. The federal estate tax, which applies to estates exceeding $13.61 million in 2024, can pose a significant financial burden on the heirs of business owners, especially if the estate (i.e., the taxpayer)
Wiggin and Dana LLP
Estate Planning for College-Aged Children
This time of year, many parents with a college-aged child are squeezing in last-minute vacations, back to school shopping and other activities before their child returns to college or starts first semester. However, one component that is often overlooked is to ensure adult children have adequate estate planning in place to address their financial and…
Five Reasons Why You Should Do Your Estate Plan
Pausing to reflect and consider a world without you — or a world with an impaired version of you — is not easy. It is also not easy for your loved ones. Implementing an estate plan is like handing a roadmap of your wishes to your friends and family when you are unable to speak…
Partner Erin Nicholls Quoted in Hartford Business Journal Article on Family Offices
On June 24, 2024, Partner Erin Nicholls was quoted in the Hartford Business Journal article titled, “Great Wealth Transfer Expected to Fuel Surge in New Family Offices.”
The article explores the growing popularity of family offices—which are entities designed to manage the wealth and personal affairs of ultra-high-net-worth families—in light of the upcoming $84.4 trillion…
Connecticut’s New Trust Decanting Statute
In what undoubtedly is welcome news to trustees of Connecticut irrevocable trusts, effective January 1, 2025, Connecticut will join the growing list of states that specifically authorize “decanting” the assets of an otherwise irrevocable trust into a new trust with improved terms. While most Connecticut practitioners believe that decanting has always been available under Connecticut…
SLATS — Spousal Lifetime Access Trusts
While historically high federal transfer tax exemptions remain in effect, the Spousal Lifetime Access Trust (“SLAT”) (also sometimes referred to as a Spousal Estate Reduction Trust, or “SERT”) remains one of the most effective planning techniques for married clients.
10 Reasons to Update Your Estate Plan
Many people tend to believe that estate planning is something they can do once, and it is done. They made decisions several years ago about who should receive their assets after their death, who should serve as executor to administer their estates, and who should be the guardians for minor children. Congratulations on getting this…
Domicile and Residence: Key Factors to Consider for Estate Planning
Though the words are often used interchangeably in casual conversation, domicile and residence are two distinct legal concepts. Your domicile is the place you intend to make your home. You may be a resident of more than one state, but you are domiciled in only one state. Domicile is determined by a number of factors…
Client Alert: 2024 Estate, Gift and GST Exemptions
The year 2024 brings new changes to estate and gift tax laws in the United States, with updated exemptions, rates and regulations affecting taxpayers at both federal and state levels. As we settle into the new year, it is important to stay informed about the latest updates and requirements to ensure proper planning and compliance.
Checklist for Changing Domicile
Domicile is a subjective concept — it depends on your intent. However, when disputes arise over a person’s domicile, courts look at a number of objective factors to aid them in determining a person’s domicile. The following list contains some of the factors courts have considered as indicative of an intent to establish domicile in…