When the ball dropped on New Year's Eve, so too was the federal estate tax dropped. Inaction on the part of the U.S. Senate means the 45 percent tax on estates of more than $3.5 million for an individual no longer applies until new legislation can be passed, which most Trust and Estate lawyers expect will happen. Those lawyers interviewed recently by the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, including Day Pitney Boston partner Peter Shapland, said they expect any new law to be retroactive to January 1. In the meantime they are looking for ways to assist their clients in taking advantage of the situation.
"The only certainty is that the federal estate tax [expired]," said Peter M. Shapland, a partner at Day Pitney in Boston. "Everything else is uncertain, including the advice that we are able to give our clients."
Shapland, of Day Pitney, said lawyers can advise their clients based only on what they know and "what we suspect will probably happen. But I am one of those who are sure that Congress will eventually get to it and, as estate planning advisers, we just need to be nimble."
Day Pitney Fiduciary and Probate Litigation Partner Ann Hetherwick "Hether" Cahill was featured in Super Lawyers Magazine article "The Boston Marathon: Philanthropy, a Dare, and a Fellini."
Day Pitney Trusts and Estates Partner Tasha K. Dickinson has been named to South Florida Business & Wealth's 2024 Prestigious Women Awards list.
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Day Pitney's Executive Committee, Executive Board and department leadership changes were featured on CityBiz.
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Day Pitney Litigation Partner Mark Romance and Trusts and Estates Partner Melissa Rodriguez authored the article "Insights Into Florida Trust and Estate Litigation Trends," for Daily Business Review.
Day Pitney's Executive Committee, Executive Board and department leadership changes were featured in Law360 Pulse.
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Day Pitney New Haven Partner Rebecca Iannantuoni will receive The Honorable Anthony V. DeMayo Pro Bono Award.
Day Pitney’s Executive Committee, department leadership changes were featured in Hartford Business Journal.
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