New York Estate Planning Lawyer Blog

April 14, 2014

Estate Fights for Music Royalties in the Digital Age

Estate planning can have ramifications decades (or even centuries!) after an individual passes away. On one hand, this is true because how one leaves assets and guidance to others can influence their long-term personal legacy. More specifically, however, planning can dictate legal matters far into the future. Whoever is in control of administering an estate has significant control over how some of those legal issues are handled.

Sudden Celebrity Death

Consider a dispute that recently arose between the estate of Rick Nelson and Capitol Records. Nelson was a popular musician an actor in the 50s, 60s, and 70s, best known for his role in the TV series “The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.” Unfortunately, Nelson died unexpectedly in a 1985 plane crash at the age of 45.

April 11, 2014

The Power of Legacy – Could a Will have Prevented WWII?

by Ettinger Law Firm

Life is about far more than the accumulation of material wealth. Working hard and collecting valuables to enjoy and pass on to others at death is nothing to spurn. But there are many other things that are accumulated over a life and can be passed on at death: morals, lessons, memories, stories of hope, words of kindness, inspiration, and countless other values.

When thinking about life transitions and estate planning, it is important to consider those intangibles just as much as those items that have a monetary value. This is why, in addition to creating legal wills and trusts, we work with New York families on “ethical wills” to pass on all of those moral and spiritual items that solidify a legacy.

Advice for the Future — Preventing a War

April 9, 2014

Developments with the New York Estate Tax

by Ettinger Law Firm

We often discuss the importance for local families to account for the New York estate tax. Far more media coverage is given to the federal tax, and some local residents are under the mistaken assumption that the state law mirrors the federal. It currently does not. Even families who do not have asset to trigger the federal tax may still need to plan appropriately for the New York tax on estates.

However, if current plans are carried out, in a few years .there may be much more congruence between the state and federal rules. That is because earlier this month New York changed exemption levels for the estate tax. Previously, assets over $1 million were exposed to the tax at a 16% top rate. Now, however, the exemption level is raised to slightly more than $2 million ($2,062,500). Not only that, but that level is set to steadily increase or five years until, in 2019, the exemption level matches the federal exemption amount at that time (projected to be $5.9 million).

Important Provisions in the Estate Tax Law

April 8, 2014

April is Financial Literacy Month – Plan for Your Future

by Ettinger Law Firm

In the spirit of raising awareness of sound money management, April is officially deemed “National Financial Literacy Month.” The U.S. Senate even passed a resolution on the matter a few years ago. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling usually leads the yearly effort, and many others in the financial world also use the occasion to discuss important money matters.

For example, Money Management International, a non-profit credit counseling agency, created a robust website sharing a variety of resources for consumers: www.FinancialLiteracyMonth.com. The website provides helpful tools on basic financial information, income worksheets, debt load calculators, financial goal tracking, and more.

While much of the information is focused on very general money management skills, if recent poll data is accurate, a majority of Americans remain far behind in prudent planning. Consider that a recent National Foundations for Credit Counseling (NFCC) survey found that over 60% of Americans do have any sort of budget. In addition, the survey found that nearly one in three Americans do not put anything from their annual income toward retirement savings. It is perhaps no wonder then that “retiring without having enough money set aside” is the most commonly cited financial issue that worries Americans according to the NFCC survey.

April 3, 2014

U.S. Tax Court: New IRA Rollover Decision Strongly Criticized

by Ettinger Law Firm

Intricate financial and estate planning details are understandably hard for many residents to wrap their head around. There are hundreds of thousands of page written in federal statutes, case opinions, and regulations dictating what can be done and what cannot. Making matters even more complex is that fact that even professionals can disagree on how certain rules should be applied.

For example, many financial planners are up in arms following a recent opinion by a U.S. Tax Court related to IRA rollovers.

The Case

April 2, 2014

Do Not Act Too Quickly After a Passing

by Ettinger Law Firm

Much of estate planning involves preparations that can streamline matters in the aftermath of a death. The probate process can be long and drawn-out, forcing families to wait months before working out the basic details of asset transfer. Alternatively, by using trusts, the process can be far more seamless, saving time and taxes. Trusts are important for all New York families, not just those with significant assets.

While it is prudent to handle legal and financial details in a timely fashion following a death, as a practical matter, it is important to not “overdo” it. A helpful article from Mondaq offers a few thoughts on ways that family members can “jump the gun” and cause more complications by rushing to deal with various matters.

Causing More Complications

March 28, 2014

Planning for Immortality – A Legacy in the Online World

by Ettinger Law Firm

http://legacylocker.com/

Passing on assets and saving on taxes are viewed as the hallmark of estate planning. But as we often share with clients, there are many intangible aspects to long-term planning that are often even more valuable that homes, cars, and savings accounts. A legacy.

An important part of many elder law estate plans is an “ethical will.” This refers to non-legally binding document that shares values to friends and loved ones. An ethical will is about one’s legacy, sharing information about one’s life purpose and reminding family members of morals and cherished principles.

March 27, 2014

Federal Estate Tax “Portability” – Should It Always Be Used?

by Ettinger Law Firm

The idea of “portability” is an important part of many estate plans. Portability is technically an informal word referring to a federal tax-saving option using the deceased spouse’s unused exemption (DSUE). Essentially, portability is a tool for married couples that, when used prudently, can shave millions of dollars off an estate tax bill.

Under the current law, assets under $5.34 million are exempt from the federal estate tax (though the New York tax kicks in far lower at $1 million). Importantly, there are unlimited tax-free transfers allowed between spouses. That means that if one spouse dies and leaves everything to the other, then there will not be a federal estate tax burden, regardless of how many assets are passed on.

However, when the surviving spouse passes away and transfers those assets to others–perhaps adult children–then the tax would apply to assets over the individual exemption level of $5.34 million. But portability changes that. Instead of using only an individual exemption, a surviving couple may be able to use any unused exemption from their former spouse in addition to their own. This means that up to $10.68 million may be exempt from the tax. In short, portability can save an estate millions of dollars in taxes.

March 25, 2014

Don’t Leave Your Planning Up to a Coin Toss

by Ettinger Law Firm

A headline-grabbing story last week in the New York Post offers a good reminder of the need to be crystal clear in certain estate planning situations to avoid drawn-out legal battles.

According to reports, two siblings are engaged in a dispute over how to divide up an inheritance that they are to split from their uncle. The two men are the nephews of David Barrett, a well-known Manhattan interior designer who passed away in 2008 at the age of 85. Per the terms of Barrett’s estate planning, his $5.6 million estate is set to be split between the two men.

However, the division of those assets into two is apparently not going smoothly.To help determine how the various assets are to be split, an executor of the estate apparently recommended that a coin toss be used. For example, to determine ownership of a painting valued at around $45.000 a coin toss was performed, with the younger brother winning.

March 18, 2014

More Wealth Transfer Tax Changes on the Way?

by Ettinger Law Firm

Politicians are engaged in a seemingly endless debate about tax rates, “loopholes,” spending cuts and similar issues. That is because a new budget must be passed every year, and each proposal undoubtedly comes with suggested changes to various tax and spend rules and regulations. For example, President Obama recently released his proposed 2015 budget. Even a cursory glance at the document reveals that, if passed, it would have clear implications on wealth transfers and estate planning for New York residents.

Estate Tax Proposal

Most notably, the proposed budget calls for the estate tax provisions to revert back to where they were in 2009–an exemption level of only $3.5 million and a top tax rate of 45%. This is in contrast to the current $5.34 million exemption level and 40% top rate. The current tax is pegged to inflation, and so the exemption level will rise slightly each year. Per the terms of the proposed budget, this new tax level and rate would not go into effect until 2018.