
Overview
David Silvian advises clients on all aspects of estate planning and estate and trust administration. His clients include business owners, executives and wealthy families, both in the U.S. and abroad. David works with his clients to simplify and explain the sometimes complicated choices they face. The result is clear steps that they can take to reduce estate and gift taxes and provide for management of their property for future generations. He has considerable experience with advanced estate planning techniques designed to reduce or eliminate gift or estate tax costs in the transfer of assets. David also acts as a trustee for family trusts, working with multiple generations to administer their trusts in a manner that suits their needs and goals. David has extensive experience using complex estate planning techniques, such as:
- Use of GRATs (Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts) to transfer assets, including diversified investment portfolios, interests in family businesses, concentrated stock positions and speculative investments to children or trusts for children at no gift tax cost
- Use of installment sales to grantor trusts to accomplish transfers of a variety of assets
- Use of LLCs (Limited Liability Companies) and family limited partnerships to reduce estate and gift tax values of investment real estate, closely held businesses and diversified investment portfolios
- Providing for ongoing management and enjoyment of family vacation homes
- Use of qualified personal residence trusts to transfer primary and vacation homes to children and to trusts for children
- Use of trusts, LLCs and other entities to facilitate investment management and participation in decision making by second and third generation family members
- Review and improvement of existing irrevocable trusts
* No aspect of these advertisements has been approved by the highest court of any state. See Awards Methodology.
Education and Credentials
Education
- Cornell Law School, J.D., 1994, Cornell Journal of Law and Public Policy, Note Editor
- The University of Chicago, A.B., 1990
Admissions
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- State of Connecticut
Affiliations
- Accredited Estate Planner, National Association of Estate Planners & Councils
- American Bar Association, Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section
- American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), Fellow
- Boston Estate Planning Council
- Boston Bar Association, Estate Planning Committee
- Massachusetts Bar Association
- Connecticut Bar Association, Estate and Probate Section
Recognition and Community
No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the highest court of any state. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. See Awards Methodology.
Recognitions
Chosen for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White, Inc.) for Trusts and Estates, 2023-2025
Chosen for inclusion in list of Top Lawyers for Trusts and Estates by Boston Magazine (Metro Corp.), 2021-2022
Chosen for inclusion in Chambers HNW Guide (Chambers & Partners)) of recognized practitioners for Private Wealth in Massachusetts, 2016-2024
News & Insights
Thought Leadership
- Generations Spring 2024 - Informal Family Offices: Hiding in Plain Sight , April 25, 2024
- UPDATED: Massachusetts Legislature Passes Wide- Ranging Tax Bill Impacting Estate and Income Taxes , September 29, 2023
- Massachusetts Appeals Court Rules That Interest in an Irrevocable Trust Is a Marital Asset , September 14, 2023
- COVID-19: Massachusetts Approves Temporary Remote Notarization , May 7, 2020
- Estate Planning Update January 2020 - Retirement Account Planning May Need to Be Reviewed Because of New Law , January 21, 2020
Events
- Day Pitney Continues Support of GLAD, October 30, 2020
News
- Chambers High Net Worth Recognizes 18 Day Pitney Attorneys for Private Wealth Law, July 18, 2024
- Chambers High Net Worth Recognizes 20 Day Pitney Attorneys for Private Wealth Law, July 20, 2023
- Chambers High Net Worth Recognizes 20 Day Pitney Attorneys for Private Wealth Law, July 22, 2022
- Chambers High Net Worth Recognizes 20 Attorneys for Private Wealth Law, July 26, 2021
- Chambers High Net Worth Recognizes Day Pitney and 16 Attorneys for Private Wealth Law, July 10, 2020
In The Media
Publications
- Will Provisions Pertaining to the Noncitizen Spouse and Will Provisions Pertaining to the Multinational Estate, Drafting Wills and Trusts in Massachusetts, 2017 Edition, MCLE, April 21, 2017
Media Mentions
- Boston Magazine's Top Lawyers of 2023, Boston Magazine, November 21, 2023
- Boston Magazine's Top Lawyers of 2022, Boston magazine , November 29, 2022
- Boston Magazine's Top Lawyers of 2021, Boston Magazine, November 23, 2021
- You, Taxes and 2018: What to Expect from the Tax Bill, Private Asset Management, January 16, 2018
- Awash With Uncertainty, Advisers Scramble to Prepare for Potential Tax Overhaul, Private Asset Management, March 3, 2017
Speaking Engagements
- Domicile and Residency Series: Breaking Up Can be Hard, October 24, 2019
- Day Pitney Widely Represented at the Federal Tax Institute of New England, October 30, 2015