Clients often wonder how frequently their estate planning documents should be reviewed. Is there a set period of time we recommend to review and perhaps update wills and other estate planning documents? As we have advised in the past, the answer depends more upon needs and life stages rather than the passage of time.

The first consideration should be whether there is a need to change a document. For example, after a move to a new state, the estate planning documents should be reviewed by an attorney licensed to practice in that state. Further, if the executor named in a will has died, moved out of state, or is no longer the appropriate person to serve, the will should be updated to substitute another executor for the one who will no longer serve. Similarly, if a guardian for a minor child is no longer appropriate because he or she has relocated to another state, or because the guardian’s personal circumstances have changed, it may be necessary to revise the will to name a new guardian. A change in the tax laws may also suggest a need for revision of a will or trust, as would a significant change in financial circumstances.

New life stages may also provide reasons to update estate planning documents.  For example, when children are minors, it is often appropriate to establish a trust to hold a child’s inheritance until a child reaches a specific age in order to safeguard the funds and minimize potential waste. As a child grows up, the need for a trust may be eliminated, or the terms of a trust might warrant a change to give a child different benefits or more control. Similarly, when a child becomes an adult, it may be appropriate to name the child to a position of responsibility, as perhaps appointing the child as an executor.

On November 24, 2025, the U.S. Postal Service (“USPS”) finalized a rule regarding when and how postmarks are applied. See 39 C.F.R. § 111 (2025). It is important for taxpayers and their advisors to be aware of the change because it has an impact on proving that a document was filed. While the rule does not change how mail is processed, it does change how postmarks should be understood, especially when deadlines matter.

What Changed?

While postmarks have long been relied upon as evidence that a document was mailed on a certain date, the new rule makes clear that this assumption is not always accurate. In most cases, postmarks are applied by automated machines at regional processing facilities, and not at the local post office where a piece of mail is dropped off. As a result, the date printed on a postmark may reflect the date the piece was first processed—not the date it was actually placed in the mail or collected by the USPS.

As a result of the 2025 tax legislation passed in July of last year, there has been a significant increase in the estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax exemptions to $15 million effective January 1.

The increase means that in 2026, an individual may make gifts during life or at death totaling $15 million without incurring gift or estate tax, and a married couple will be able to transfer $30 million of assets free of transfer taxes.

The annual gift tax exclusion provided by Code section 2503 remains at $19,000 per donee (or $38,000 if spouses elect gift-splitting).

On October 22, 2024, the IRS issued Revenue Procedure 2024-40 setting forth the inflation adjusted transfer tax exemptions for 2025. The Basic Exclusion Amount (BEA) will be $13,990,000.  The increase means that in 2025, an individual may make gifts during life or at death totaling $13,990,000 without incurring gift or estate tax; a married couple will be able to transfer $27,980,000 of assets free of transfer taxes.  The Generation-Skipping Transfer (GST) Exemption under section 2631 of the Code will also increase to $13,990,000.

The annual gift tax exclusion provided by Code section 2503 will increase in 2025 to $19,000 per donee (or $38,000 if spouses elect gift-splitting).

The gift tax annual exclusion for gifts to non-citizen spouses as set forth in Code sections 2503 and 2523(i)(2) will increase to $190,000.

As a general rule, trusts are created in one of two ways.  Inter vivos trusts are established by an agreement or declaration during the life of the creator (called the “grantor” or “settlor” of the trust).  Testamentary trusts are created in the will of a testator and do not exist until the testator dies, the will is probated, and the executor of the will transfers assets to fund the trust.  Testamentary trusts are irrevocable and cannot be changed except in limited circumstances, whereas inter vivos trusts may be revocable (i.e.,  may be amended or terminated) or irrevocable.

In New Jersey, a trustee is entrusted with significant responsibilities that require not only the proper management and distribution of assets but also the fulfillment of strict fiduciary obligations.  Whether the trustee is an individual or a corporate entity, the role demands a high level of diligence, integrity, and accountability.  For beneficiaries, understanding a trustee’s duties is essential to ensure that their rights are protected, while for trustees, knowing the full extent of their responsibilities is crucial for effective administration.

The trustee’s role lasts the length of the trust’s duration, or until the trustee sooner resigns, dies, or is removed.

Ensuring the seamless transition of ownership and safeguarding a company’s stability is of paramount importance to any closely held business.  Buy-sell agreements play a crucial role in achieving these objectives. These agreements dictate the terms under which shares of the business can be bought or sold, typically triggered by events such as death, disability, retirement, or voluntary departure of an owner.  A recent decision by the United States Supreme Court necessitates that owners of closely held businesses review their buy-sell agreements, particularly those that involve using life insurance proceeds to purchase a deceased shareholder’s interest in the company.

In a unanimous decision issued on June 6, 2024, the Supreme Court held that life insurance proceeds payable to a corporation are includible in the corporation’s value for Federal Estate Tax purposes, with no offset allowed for the obligation to purchase a deceased shareholder’s interest.  Estate of Connelly v. United States, 602 U.S. ___ (2024) (No. 23-146, June 6, 2024).

Michael and Thomas Connelly were the owners of Crown C Supply, a building supply corporation (the “Company”).  Michael was the CEO and owned almost 80% of the stock, with Thomas owning the rest.  The brothers had entered into a buy-sell agreement that was to be effective in the event of their deaths.  Under the agreement, the surviving brother was given the option to purchase the deceased brother’s shares.  If he did not do so, the Company itself would be required to redeem the shares.  The Company obtained life insurance policies of $3.5 million on each brother.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is in the beginning stages of a revolution.  For the better part of the last century, this technology saw little application outside of data analytics and computer algorithms.

Today, AI can replicate real communication with surprising ease.  ChatGPT, for instance, is known for its ability to draft essays and summarize long passages from a book in mere seconds, a boon for many a student. Recently, ChatGPT even passed the uniform bar exam on its first attempt. Which begs the question, will this technology replace estate planning attorneys?  If you ask ChatGPT yourself, you might be surprised.  We typed “I have a legal question” in the search bar, and nearly instantaneously ChatGPT responded, “Sure, I can try to help.  Please keep in mind that I’m not a lawyer, and my responses are not a substitute for professional legal advice.”

Still curious, we pressed on, and asked ChatGPT the following question:

The Federal Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“TCJA”) amended section 2010(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) to provide that, for decedents dying and gifts made after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026, the basic exclusion amount (BEA) and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax (“GST”) exemptions would increase to $10 million as adjusted for inflation. On January 1, 2026, these exemptions will revert to $5 million (the pre-TCJA figure), adjusted for inflation. The inflation adjustments over the years since 2018 have resulted in BEA and GST Exemptions of $12,920,000 in 2023.

On November 9, 2023 the IRS issued Revenue Procedure 2023-34 setting forth the inflation adjusted transfer tax exemptions for 2024. The BEA will be $13,610,000—an increase of $690,000. The increase means that in 2024, an individual may make gifts during life or at death totaling $13,610,000 without incurring gift or estate tax; a married couple will be able to transfer $27,220,000 of assets free of transfer taxes. The GST Exemption under section 2631 of the Code will also increase to $13,610,000.

The annual gift tax exclusion provided by Code section 2503 will increase in 2024 to $18,000 per donee (or $36,000 if spouses elect gift-splitting).

When a taxpayer contributes $250 or more to a charitable organization, in order for the taxpayer to claim an income tax charitable deduction the organization must provide the taxpayer with a contemporaneous written acknowledgment of the gift.  I.R.C. § 170(f)(8)(A).  The acknowledgment must include (i) the amount of cash and a description (but not the value) of any property other than cash contributed, (ii) an explicit statement of whether the donee organization provided any goods or services in consideration for part or all of the gift, and (iii) a description and good faith estimate of the value of the goods or services referred to in clause (ii), or if such goods and services consist solely of intangible religious benefits, a statement to that effect.  I.R.C. § 170(f)(8)(B).

The following recent cases have confirmed the need for strict compliance with the Internal Revenue Code (the “Code”) in connection with securing the charitable deduction.

Izen v. Commissioner, 38 F.4^th 459 (5^th Cir. 2022).  Taxpayer contributed a 50% interest in a private jet to the Houston Aeronautical Heritage Society and claimed a deduction of $338,080, which was disallowed.  Taxpayer’s income tax return did not include a contemporaneous written acknowledgment of the gift.  Taxpayer subsequently obtained and filed an acknowledgment of the gift, but the Fifth Circuit found it was not contemporaneous and lacked a statement about whether donee provided goods or services in consideration for the gift.  The taxpayer argued substantial compliance.  The court said that while substantial compliance may suffice to meet the requirements imposed by the Treasury, it does not satisfy requirements imposed by the Code.

Grantor trusts can provide substantial estate and income tax savings to those who establish them.  The grantor of a “grantor trust” is treated as the owner of the trust assets for federal income tax purposes. The grantor continues to pay the income tax generated by the assets contributed to the trust and receives the benefit of all deductions and credits. Whether the grantor trust property is excluded from the estate of the grantor, and thus escapes estate tax, is dependent on the drafting of the trust. The rules regarding grantor trusts can be found in Sections 671 through 679 of the Internal Revenue Code. [1]

It is beneficial for the grantor to be treated as the income tax owner of a trust because trusts have more compressed tax brackets than do individuals. For example, in 2022, individuals were taxed at the highest marginal rate of 37% on income over $539,900, or $647,850 for married taxpayers.[2] Trusts, however, reached the top marginal rate of 37% at income above $13,450.[3]

In general, the following provisions  in a trust will create a “grantor trust.”