With President Trump’s recent immigration reforms impacting the domiciliary status of many New York residents, estate trust administrators are faced with changes to the taxable status of those asset transfers. New York Consolidated Laws, Estates, Powers and Trusts Law (EPTL) applies specific rules to asset transfer procedure when there is…
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Research Shows Link Between Anxiety in Middle Age and Dementia Later in Life
A recent study suggests that people with moderate to severe anxiety in middle age may be more likely to develop dementia as they get older. The study based its conclusions off of data from four previously published studies that tracked a total of 30,000 individuals over a 10-year period and…
The Trust as Fund Investor
The primary benefit of trust and family foundation investment in stock funds, is the transferability of those vested assets to cash. Unlike real property, securities offer wealth enhancement features, as well as a ready source of liquidity. The Securities and Exchange Commission Act of 1934 (“The Exchange Act”) is the…
Inheritance Rights of Children with Unmarried Parents
In the United States, the inheritance rights of children with unmarried parents are virtually the same as those of children with married parents. New York estate law allows trust holders to leave property to anyone named in a will, trust, or other joint estate or investment device. Where there…
How Will the New Tax Bill Impact Older Americans?
The $1.5 trillion tax bill passed last year will likely have far reaching consequences on millions of seniors across the country, some good and some bad. While only time will truly tell how things will shape out, there are a number of areas many tax lawyers and elder law attorneys…
Maximizing the Value of an Estate or Trust with Shareholder Transfers
Legacy ownership of a business interest can continue to have control over an enterprise if that entity becomes part of a probate estate. Stock transfer to a single, or to multiple trusts, in the interest of continued business operations, is not only a plausible, but legitimate estate planning strategy that…
Analysis Suggests Medicare Prices Could Skyrocket 200 Percent for Some Retirees
High income retirees could see some of their Medicare premiums skyrocket up to 203 percent in 2018 due to shifts in the income brackets that are used to determine how much older Americans will pay for their Medicare Part B and Part D coverage. Those predictions come from an analysis…
“Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” Affects Estate Planning Tax Rules
Since congressional ratification of the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” of 2017 (“TCJA”), federal Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) guidelines effective tax year 2017 have proven to be a challenge for estate planners. Reform introduced to “simplify” the tax reporting process for entities, the Act modifies estate income tax guidelines; imposing…
Derivative Action Lawsuits: Protecting the Interests of a Family-Owned Corporation
If the interest of a family-owned corporation part of an estate or trust has been violated, a derivative action lawsuit can be filed on behalf of those shareholders alleged to be harmed by improper fiduciary conduct. In probate litigation matters, family-owned corporation interests can complicate execution of an estate or…
Estate Planners Advise Dynasty Trust Transfers Post-Tax Reform
A will that establishes an estate or trust based on outdated federal or state income tax exemption guidelines can be tied up in probate for an extended period and divest heirs of millions of dollars. With President Trump’s 2017 tax reforms increased exemptions for the ultra-rich have estate and trust…