Publication: Trusts and Estates Law Section Journal

Multistate Practice Updates

Florida Property Tax Reassessed After Transfer to LLC High-net-worth individuals often transfer real estate to entities, such as limited liability companies, for the purpose of safeguarding their assets. However, recent events involving a couple in Florida highlight the potential negative implications for property taxes in certain states. In the case of S and A Property Investment … Continued

Message From the Section Chair

I hope everyone had an amazing summer filled with wonderful adventures. With fall upon us, I look forward to continuing the success our section has enjoyed thus far in 2023 in terms of bolstering engagements among existing and new members, as well as pushing forward our legislative and related projects. We have many great events … Continued

Message From the Editor-in-Chief

In this issue, Eric W. Penzer discusses the application of the doctrine of equitable adoption; Matthew T. Lee and Steven A. Loeb address the benefits of the freeze partnership; Lori A. Sullivan and Lisa Fenech detail the difficult process an executor has to go through in order to be released by the beneficiaries; Andrew G. … Continued

International Estate Planning Updates

Cross-Border Basis Implications of IRS Revenue Ruling 2023-2 Earlier this year, the issuance of Revenue Ruling 2023-21 garnered much attention and discourse. At last, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was settling an issue that some practitioners considered to be an open issue – whether the assets of an irrevocable grantor trust would receive a step-up … Continued

Florida Update

Decisions of Interest and Recent Updates in the Florida Statutes Florida Statutes §§ 692.201-692.205 – Restriction on Ownership of Certain Florida Real Property by Certain Foreign Nationals On May 8, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 264 (the “bill”), which restricts ownership of certain Florida real property by foreign principals (as hereinafter defined) from … Continued

Case Notes—New York Supreme and Surrogate’s Court Decisions

Admissibility of Evidence Before the court in In re Kevelson was a contested probate proceeding in which the court scheduled a hearing to determine the validity of a prenuptial agreement in which the objectant, the decedent’s surviving spouse, had purportedly waived her rights in intestacy, to elect against the will, and to serve as a fiduciary of … Continued

Using Mental Hygiene Law Article 81 Guardianship To Foil Scammers

“Elder Abuse Is Spreading, Stoked by the Pandemic – Seniors Fall Victim to Fraud, Physical Violence and Neglect,” was a recent Wall Street Journal front-page article. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought to light the vulnerability of isolated seniors. In the past two years, the number of financial scams against seniors has skyrocketed.1 The following hypothetical is a composite … Continued

Multistate Practice Updates

In this recurring column, the Multistate Practice Committee of the NYSBA Trusts and Estates Law Section will highlight key developments in other states that may be of interest to New York trusts and estates practitioners. Massachusetts Millionaire’s Tax Massachusetts voters approved the Fair Share Amendment to the Massachusetts Constitution, which imposes a 4% surtax on … Continued

Message From the Editor-in-Chief

In this issue, Eva-Marie Cusack, Deborah S. Kearns, Nicole L. Clouthier and Tara-Anne Pleat present the difficulties with compliance under SCPA 1708(2)(c) and propose practical considerations for legislative changes to the statute; David A. Bamdad addresses the basis for a fiduciary’s obligation to account for entities owned by an estate or trust; Sara Meyers discusses the … Continued