You Can Create a Pet Trust – Just Like the One For Choupette
According to multiple news sources, when the creative director and fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld died on February 19, 2019, he left his famous cat, Choupette, a significant amount of money in trust. Pet trusts are now quite common, and specifically authorized by statute in most jurisdictions. Many people consider pets as a part of the family, and want them […]
The Best Place To Die (From An Estate And Inheritance Tax Perspective)
Best place to die Several years ago, I wrote a few articles comparing the tax consequences of dying in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Florida. Now that New Jersey has amended its estate tax laws, I thought I should write another post for 2017 regarding the best place to die. I will write this […]
Reasons to Value a Trust
Recently I gave a lecture on the valuation of trusts. While I am not an accountant nor am I a valuation expert, I live and breathe trusts… and frequently the question comes up, what is value of a particular beneficiary’s interest in a trust. Keep in mind, just because a trust is worth $1M, it […]
Dynasty and Generation Skipping Trusts Can Trigger a Compromise Tax
A number of years ago I wrote about the dangers of accidentally triggering a Compromise Tax in New Jersey and in Pennsylvania. It occurs to me that most dynasty trusts are set up to go to children, grandchildren and more remote descendants, but there is also boilerplate that says if the Grantor doesn’t have any living descendants, it will […]
Non Residents of Pennsylvania Can Be Subject to Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax
I frequently get calls from individuals who had a relative pass away with property located in Pennsylvania. Even though the decedent lived somewhere besides Pennsylvania, you should be aware that Pennsylvania reserves the right to tax this property on the death of the owner via an inheritance tax. This tax will apply whether the decedeånt […]
Japanese Inheritance Tax vs. US Estate Tax (2014 Update)
BRIEF OVERVIEW OFJAPANESE INHERITANCE AND GIFT TAXESvs.AMERICAN ESTATE AND GIFT TAXES (2014 Update) I. Estate Taxes A. America 1. If the Decedent is a Citizen or Permanent Resident Tax on Worldwide property (credit for taxes paid to foreign countries) Exemption of $5,340,000 in 2014 (indexed for inflation). For married couples, the exemption amount is $10,680,000 […]
Pennsylvania Same Sex Married Couples No Longer Have to Pay Inheritance Tax
On May 20, 2014, declared that Pennsylvania’s laws banning same sex marriage was unconstitutional. Besides the practical implication that same sex couples in Pennsylvania may now get married, it also means that when one spouse dies, the survivor can now inherit tax free. Previously, only a heterosexual surviving spouse could inherit assets of the deceased spouse […]
Choosing an Executor, Trustee and Guardian
Clients frequently ask me for advice on who they should name as Executor, Trustee or Guardian when creating their Last Will and Testament. First, let me explain the difference between the three roles. The Executor The Executor is the person who probates your Will, goes into your house and looks through all your things, safeguards […]
Pennsylvania Makes Significant Changes to Inheritance Tax Law
On July 9, 2013, Pennsylvania enacted new legislation that made significant changes to their inheritance tax law by exempting the transfer of small family owned businesses. (H.B. 465) A qualified family-owned business is defined as a proprietorship or entity with fewer than 50 full time employees and assets less than $5,000,000 at the decedent’s death. […]