Moses & Singer's trusts and estates and wealth preservation department provide a full range of tax and family planning services to owners of businesses, whether in the form of a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or entrepreneurship. In addition to experience in the traditional areas of will and trust drafting and estate administration, our attorneys excel in the use of the latest techniques to implement effective plans for business succession while minimizing taxes to the greatest extent possible.

The firm carries out its clients' objectives with precision, providing inventive solutions through the organization of limited liability companies, family limited partnerships, S corporations and the creation of trusts.

Trusts and Estates

In the area of estate planning, our attorneys' mastery of the highly complex federal estate and gift tax laws is necessary to provide sophisticated advice to our clients with regard to the most tax effective manner in which to carry out their intentions, while preserving their ultimate family objectives.

Included in the firm's arsenal of estate planning tools are the revocable or "living" trust to provide for continuity of management of assets; the irrevocable life insurance trust to reduce the size of the insured's estate; the grantor retained income trust to transfer a personal residence to heirs at reduced tax rates; and the creation of grantor retained annuity trusts and grantor retained unitrusts funded with income producing stock in closely held businesses in order to transfer ownership to younger generations at reduced gift tax rates.

For clients who wish to advance their philanthropic activities, our firm assists in creating tax qualified charitable trusts and private foundations.

Moses & Singer has a long history of representing and advising executors of substantial estates. The firm's attorneys handle all stages of estate administration including probate of the will; the collection of assets; the preparation of the federal and state estate tax returns; the representation of the estate in tax audits; the compilation of the executor's accounting and attendant releases; the preparation of the fiduciary income tax returns; and the distribution of the estate assets to the beneficiaries. At every stage of the administration of an estate, we are attuned to all available tax planning opportunities to further our clients' interests.

In addition, the Firm has successfully represented clients in various types of estate litigation and complex Surrogate's Court proceedings including will contests, will constructions, reformation proceedings and contested accountings.

Wealth Preservation

In addition to estate tax minimization our attorneys are well versed in the techniques available to preserve our clients' wealth from the risks of divorce, litigation and future creditors. Such techniques may include the use of dynasty trusts, children's trusts and trusts established in debtor-friendly states such as Alaska and Delaware as well as certain offshore jurisdictions.

As our clients expand their investments into the global arena, multi-jurisdictional planning takes on greater importance. Nonresident clients investing in United States situs property must adhere to certain rules to avoid U.S. tax implications. Our attorneys have the experience required to advise and assist clients in structuring such investments in a most tax advantageous manner.