For many, pets are part of their family like any other family member, sometimes more so. That said, who cares for your pets after your death, and what money can be set aside for their support? Questions like these are addressed on this episode of “Future Focused: Sophisticated Estate Planning,” where Partners Erin Nicholls
Modern families are complex and can consist of unmarried couples, married same-sex couples or couples in second marriages. These families may encounter unique estate planning challenges and may not always enjoy the same legal advantages, spousal rights, and tax benefits as others. For instance, couples who do not take the formal step of marriage under
For many potential home buyers, purchasing a home can be daunting, especially in today’s housing market. It is often a huge financial burden, and many will need some assistance to close the deal. On this episode of “Future Focused: Sophisticated Estate Planning,” Partners Erin Nicholls and Michael Clear discuss several available options to assist with
Ownership of real property in multiple states can raise many estate planning issues. How the property is titled (i.e., whether the property is owned directly or through an entity, such as a trust or a limited liability company, may have a dramatic impact on the settlement of your estate and the taxes due. Fortunately, there
Originally published on February 11, 2021.
The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) was enacted on January 1, 2021 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act creating a federal beneficial ownership registry applicable to corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs) and most partnerships. Targeted at small, privately-held business entities, the CTA requires these organizations to report
There has been a longstanding effort globally and a lot of pressure on the United States to implement some sort of registry on a federal level for ownership of small and mid-sized entities. On today’s episode of “Future Focused: Sophisticated Estate Planning,” Partners Erin Nicholls and Michael Clear chat with Partner Carolyn Reers about the
A special kind of irrevocable trust, known as a qualified personal residence trust (or QPRT), may enable you to transfer your residence to your children (or others) at a significantly reduced value for tax purposes, yet allow you to continue to live in the residence for as long as you wish.
Setting Up a QPRT
Funding education at any level can be a large expense and may require a lot of advanced planning. In this episode of “Future Focused: Sophisticated Estate Planning,” hosts Erin Nicholls and Michael Clear discuss key strategies for funding educational expenses. They explore various options, including the direct payment of tuition, 529 educational funding plans, and
The family beach house, ski condo, lake cottage, or other vacation property is often cherished for the lifelong memories created and the traditions upheld. Understandably, many people want to keep these properties in the family for generations to come, with the intent of creating meaningful family traditions and history, strengthening family ties, and preserving a parent’s
Updated May 2025
Clients interested in assisting a family member financially can consider making an intrafamily loan. To be respected as a loan, rather than a gratuitous transfer, certain formalities should be followed. Here, we outline those formalities.
What is an intrafamily loan?
Although current tax law allows for the exclusion of gifts up to