Nevada is Premier State for Domestic Asset Protection Trusts

Recently, a Probate and Property magazine article listed Nevada as the premier domestic jurisdiction for asset protection trusts.  In the November/December 2012 issue, Barry Engel, founding principal of the Denver, Colorado firm of Engel & Raiman PC, was interviewed on “Asset Protection Developments.” Mr. Engel co-authored the 1989 amendment to the Cook Islands International Trust Act.  Mr. Engel complimented Nevada by stating:

In terms of domestic jurisdictions, we have used Nevada over the years more than any other state.  We like it for the protective legislation is has on the books, the quality of trustees available, its proactive attitude and approach toward domestic asset protection law, and how it seems to strive to make what it has even all the better.

Nevada continues to surpass other states in regard to its asset protection trusts and the protections available to debtors.  Our office can help you protect assets from creditors and assure your wealth preservation.

Democrats Divided Over Future of Estate Tax

One tax element overlooked in the negotiations over the “fiscal cliff” is how Congress and the President will resolve the future of the estate tax. The Wall Street Journal reports that several Democratic senators from conservative states will not embrace President Obama’s plan to raise the estate tax.  Under current law, the estate tax exemption amount will be lowered to $1 million with a 55% tax rate starting January 2013. President Obama proposes to return the estate tax exemption amount to $3.5 million with a 45% rate, the same terms as 2009.

Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Max Baucus of Montana, and Mark Pryor of Arkansas said they would prefer not to raise the estate tax.  This week, Ms. Landrieu took a very strong position by stating that she would oppose any deficit-reduction package that raises the estate tax. One common element among Landrieu, Baucus, and Pryor is their party affiliation, another more important aspect is that all three are up for re-election in 2014.  The three are diverging from the Democratic party’s position to endorse a position likely favored by their conservative constituents.

Republican lawmakers continue to support estate tax repeal altogether.  At the very least, the Republican leaders expect a continuation of the Bush-era tax cuts which would maintain the estate tax exemption at $5 million and a 35% tax rate.  Under the current policy, the Tax Policy Center estimates that $161 billion of tax revenue will be generated over the next 10 years.  Under President Obama’s proposal, $276 billion would be raised.  Considering the highly-charged political climate, we may not have a resolution to the future of the estate tax in the near future.