David L. Silvian

Partner

F: (413) 241 8210
Overview Insights News Education and Credentials Recognition and Community

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.

Insights

News

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

Recognition

Chosen for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (Woodward/White, Inc.) for Trusts and Estates, 2023-2024

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, 2016-2023

No aspect of these advertisements have been approved by the highest court of any state. See Awards Methodology