In the second episode of Future Focused: Sophisticated Estate Planning Speaker Showcase, Private Client Services Partner Vanessa Maczko and Corporate Partner Jack Sousa discuss estate planning strategies, with a focus on business owners and succession planning for both family and non-family enterprises. The discussion highlights the importance of structuring ownership using voting and non-voting shares

What Is an Intrafamily Loan?       

Intrafamily loans, or loans between family members, can be an effective estate planning tool to transfer potential growth on loaned funds between generations without reducing the lender’s lifetime gift and estate tax exemption.  The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) generally scrutinizes intrafamily loans and may recharacterize them as disguised gifts subject

In the premiere episode of our Speaker Showcase, Partners Michael Clear and Erin Nicholls explore the evolving landscape of estate planning, with a special focus on strategies for middle and high-net-worth clients in Connecticut. The discussion addresses the potential sunset of the estate and gift tax exemptions in 2026, offering practical gifting strategies to maximize

The death of a serving executor or administrator (a “fiduciary”) during the administration of a loved one’s estate can add to the stress of an already overwhelming process. Fortunately, Connecticut law provides a clear framework to transition between fiduciaries and ensure the estate progresses in a timely manner.

Understanding the Roles: Executor vs. Administrator

An

The Montana Supreme Court in The Matter of the Estate of Jessie L. Beck, 418 Mont. 416 (2024) considered whether under Montana law, a cell phone video met the requirements of a validly executed last will and testament.  The answer was a resounding no.

Four days prior to the decedent’s death, he recorded a

Ruth Fortune, Associate in the Private Client Services Department, has been recognized by the Hartford County Bar Association with the Judge Maxwell Heiman Memorial Award.

The Judge Maxwell Heiman Memorial Award is presented to a Hartford County lawyer in his or her first ten years of practice who exemplifies the high standards of service

Michael Clear, Chair of the Private Client Service Department at Wiggin and Dana, has been elected as a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), one of the most prestigious designations in the field of estate planning and trust law.

ACTEC is a nonprofit association of peer-elected lawyers who are

When it comes to estate and gift taxation, non-U.S. citizens face unique challenges based on their residence and domicile status. Understanding these concepts is crucial for effective estate planning and tax management.

Determining Domicile for Estate and Gift Tax Purposes

Estate and gift taxation of non-U.S. citizens is based on residence. For estate and gift

Digital Assets may be poised to revolutionize the financial world and the velocity of moving money across the economy. On this episode of Future Focused: Sophisticated Estate Planning, host Erin Nicholls and Corporate partner R.J. Kornhaas welcome guest Jake Claver, Managing Director of Digital Ascension Group, a multifamily office serving high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth clients. Jake

The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) has adopted an interim final rule that significantly narrows the scope of beneficial ownership information (BOI) filing requirements. The interim final rule (i) removes the requirement for U.S. companies and U.S. persons to report BOI, and (ii) revises the definition of “reporting company”  to mean only those entities that