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I started this blog in 2013, and this is the first time I have the opportunity to write about a case that I am actually involved in. This case involves a long-running dispute between the father of the decedent, the personal representative of the estate, and the decedent’s children, the beneficiaries of the estate (the personal representative’s grandchildren).

15 Jan 2019

Maldonado v. Buchsbaum

By Jenna G. Rubin, Esq.

In certain situations, it is possible to get a temporary injunction without notice, but a court should not do so without strictly complying with the rules governing injunctions. In this case, the surviving spouse sought a temporary injunction against the decedent’s aide who had allegedly fostered a relationship with the decedent and alienated him from his spouse during life.

09 Jan 2019

Mandatory Restricted Depository Arrangements in Probate Questioned [Florida]

Fla.Stats. §69.031(1) authorizes a probate court to direct the financial assets of a probate estate be deposited into a restricted depository account held by a financial institution. This is a protective mechanism, since assets may be disbursed from that account only upon court order, instead of mere direction by the personal representative. Thus, it acts a mechanism to reduce the risk of improper use, dissipation, or disbursement of estate asset. . .

09 Jan 2019

Rules Issued on Excess Remuneration Paid by Exempt Organizations

The 2017 Tax Act imposed a penalty on excess compensation paid to employees of an applicable exempt organizations (“ATEO”). Code §4960 imposes an excise tax of 21 percent on compensation paid to a covered employee in excess of $1 million and on any excess parachute payments paid to a covered employee. A “covered employee” is any employee (or former employee) who is one of the five highest – compensated employees of the organization for the taxable year or was a covered employee of the organization (or any predecessor) for any preceding taxable year.

The IRS has issued Notice 2019-9, which contains interim rules on how the excise tax will apply. Some interesting aspects of the new statute and rules are summarized below. . .

30 Dec 2018

Another Court Finds Failure to Check Off Foreign Account on Income Tax Return Is Enough to Find Willfulness For FBAR Penalty

As discussed on numerous occasions in this blog, a substantial penalty applies if a foreign account is not reported on an annual FBAR filing and the failure to report was willful. As more attention has been focused on FBAR filing failures over the last 10 years or so, more courts are addressing when a failure to file is willful.

Problematic for taxpayers who claim a lack of knowledge of the FBAR filing requirement is the question on Schedule B of their federal income tax return that asks if they have an interest in or authority over an account. . .

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