As the new year approaches, we present our annual year-end advisory for 2023. This edition highlights noteworthy estate and gift tax changes in the law and outlines planning opportunities that can be utilized before the end of the year. We also take a moment to recognize some of our accomplishments in 2023 and provide our
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
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
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
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
Private foundations, also known as “family foundations,” can serve strategic wealth planning goals for high-net-worth individuals while also serving charitable goals. However, private foundations require oversight and annual reporting, and administering a private foundation may be more onerous than it first appears. In this publication, we discuss the key requirements and recommended practices associated with
In this episode of “Future Focused,” Partners Erin Nicholls and Michael Clear discuss the operation of family foundations as a wealth planning strategy. They highlight the trade-offs between donor advised funds and private foundations, focusing on the annual requirements of private foundations. They cover topics such as federal reporting, the 5% minimum distribution requirement, state-level
Every month, the IRS publishes “applicable federal rates” (AFRs) and a § 7520 rate. These are the rates prescribed by the IRS for use by taxpayers for various intra-family transactions and estate planning vehicles. Importantly, these rates have steadily increased over the last few years.
The July 2023 AFRs have been released. The current short-
On this episode, join Partners Erin Nicholls and Michael Clear as they discuss key considerations when addressing Generation-Skipping Transfer (GST) Tax. With a particular focus on interesting planning opportunities and things to look out for when addressing GST tax, Erin and Michael emphasize the importance of thinking strategically about GST tax and its effects on
With educational expenses on the rise, planning for your children’s education while they are still young is usually advisable. Many families find that a “section 529 education savings plan,” or more commonly known as a “529 plan,” works well for this purpose, but there are potential