The Snowbird’s Dilemma, Revisited

Earlier this year, we explored how a New York couple’s move to Florida fell short in the eyes of the New York Tax Appeals Tribunal, resulting in approximately $60,000 in additional New York income taxes (read earlier advisory here). A recent Connecticut Supreme Court decision demonstrates how much higher the…

As the new year approaches, we present our annual year-end advisory for 2025.  This edition highlights noteworthy estate and gift tax changes and outlines planning opportunities for year-end and beyond. We also take a moment to recognize some of our accomplishments in 2025 and provide our outlook for the new year.

2026 ESTATE, GIFT, AND

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In this episode, host Michael Clear is joined by Matt Brown, a Litigation Partner at Wiggin and Dana, to explore the human side of probate litigation. Their conversation sheds light on the emotional challenges that often accompany major life events, such as the loss of a loved one. They emphasize the value of thorough…

  1. The Connecticut Superior Court in Gervolino v. Gervolino ruled that remainder interests in family trusts, even when the primary beneficiary is still alive, can be deemed “marital property” and subject to division in divorce proceedings.
  2. The court’s approach—valuing the current trust assets and
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  1. The Connecticut Superior Court’s ruling in Sullivan v. Sullivan allows a claim that a trustee’s resignation in a divorce context could be considered a fraudulent conveyance, even though conventional estate planning advises trustees to resign to protect trust assets during divorce proceedings.
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Probate litigation is an area of law that can be fraught with unexpected twists and critical deadlines. The recent decision in Chartier v. Valliere, 234 Conn. App. 1 (2025), offers a compelling look into the complexities of will contests, the significance of precise court language, and the perilous consequences of delayed action. This case…

In this episode of Future Focused: Sophisticated Estate Planning, Host Michael Clear is joined by Litigation Partner Michael Kenny, where they discuss the complexities of probate disputes, focusing on will contests, particularly related to undue influence and testamentary capacity. As people live longer and healthier lives, Michael Kenny notes that there is growing awareness…

Serving as an agent under a Power of Attorney entails certain fiduciary obligations, including the duty to act in good faith in all dealings on behalf of the principal.  A key component of this duty is maintaining accurate and detailed records of all actions taken as agent and, upon request, being able to provide evidence…

As experienced litigation attorneys can explain, summary judgment is a procedural mechanism that allows a court to resolve a case without a trial when there are no genuine disputes of material fact, and the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter of law. This tool has long been available under both Connecticut and…

In the final episode of the Speaker Showcase, Partners Steve Malech and Matt Smith discuss the complexities of estate planning, particularly in the context of divorce and family disputes. They highlight the importance of clear definitions in legal documents, the potential for costly litigation, and the challenges posed by multi-jurisdictional assets. They emphasize the need…