New landscape for estate planning attorneys 
By:
Sylvia Hsieh
Published: January 10, 2013
Tags: estate planning, estate tax, estate tax exemption, fiscal cliff, gift tax, taxation, trusts and estates
The new law that averted the “fiscal cliff” contains major changes for estate and gift tax rules that will affect not only the advice lawyers give to their clients, but the future landscape of estate planning law for years to come.
New Year brings more uncertainty over estate tax
Published: December 18, 2012
Tags: estate planning, estate tax, real estate, taxation
WASHINGTON – As the budgetary wrangling between the White House and Congress continues, the only thing that is clear is that an agreement on long-term estate tax reform is unlikely. That means federal estate tax rate hikes and the loss of certain planning tools are looming for January.
State AGs weigh in against DOMA
Published: September 18, 2012
Tags: Defense of Marriage Act, DOMA, equal protection, estate planning, estate tax, same-sex marriage, sex discrimination, sexual orientation discrimination
The 2nd Circuit should strike down the Defense of Marriage Act as an unconstitutional violation of the equal protection rights of same-sex couples, a trio of state Attorneys General argues in a new brief.
Estate planning tools may vanish in 2013
By:
Kimberly Atkins
Published: August 7, 2012
Tags: estate planning, estate tax, federal law, gift tax
WASHINGTON – For estate planning attorneys, the unstable nature of federal tax law has become the new normal. But the prospect of skyrocketing estate tax rates and the potential loss of key estate planning tools with certain federal laws set to expire is spurring them to get their clients to act – and quickly.
Estate tax guessing continues
By:
Kimberly Atkins
Published: February 23, 2012
Tags: estate planning, estate tax, estate tax exemption, federal budget, President Obama
WASHINGTON – With little chance of long-term federal estate tax reform passing in Washington any time soon, attorneys are again trying to plan as best as they can – not only for their clients, but also for themselves.
The pitfalls of ‘portability’
By:
Kimberly Atkins
Published: October 24, 2011
Tags: Congress, estate tax, portability
The new estate tax “portability” law was a welcome change for estate planning attorneys and their clients, but short-term law has some drawbacks that necessitate careful planning.
IRS releases estate tax exemption form
Published: October 14, 2011
Tags: estate planning, estate tax, estate tax exemption, Internal Revenue Service, IRS, trusts and estates
The Internal Revenue Service has released the form necessary for practitioners to opt clients out of the estate tax.
Deadline looms: Should you re-characterize a Roth IRA?
By:
Correy Stephenson
Published: October 6, 2011
Tags: estate planning, estate tax, retirement planning, Roth IRA
Lawyers and their clients who chose to convert a traditional IRA into a Roth IRA last year face a deadline in the coming weeks.
Those who wish to re-characterize their Roth IRA back into a traditional IRA have until Oct. 17 to take action.
IRS extends due date for 2010 estate tax exemption
Published: September 15, 2011
Tags: carryover basis, estate planning, estate tax, estate tax exemption, Internal Revenue Service, IRS
Providing some relief to stressed-out estate planning attorneys and tax practitioners, the Internal Revenue Service announced Sept. 13 that estates of 2010 decedents will have a longer time to file forms to exempt out of the estate tax and may be able to receive a filing extension.
IRS issues 2010 estates notice
By:
Correy Stephenson
Published: September 7, 2011
Tags: estate planning, estate tax, estate tax exemption, Internal Revenue Service, IRS
After months of speculation and anticipation on the part of estate planning attorneys and tax practitioners, the Internal Revenue Service has issued a Notice and Revenue Procedure for 2010 estates seeking to exempt out of the estate tax.
