Administration of Trusts & Estates
Robert J. Stern has extensive experience in trust and estate administration matters. His clients include executors, administrators, and trustees, both corporate and individual. From probating wills and collecting and valuing assets, to ensuring proper documentation, record keeping, and using the latest accounting and tax software, the estate administration process is made as easy and convenient as possible. Mr. Stern works closely with each client to provide guidance tailored to the client’s individual situation, on the many issues that arise in the administration of trusts and estates.
Estate & Tax Planning
Mr. Stern handles all aspects of estate and tax planning, including providing counsel on the development and implementation of sophisticated estate planning techniques designed to achieve the clients’ personal objectives, and transfer wealth in the most tax-efficient manner. He also assist clients with non-tax aspects of estate and personal planning, such as liability concerns, centralized management of assets, transitioning ownership of a family business, and effective trusts for children and grandchildren. Serving as “family adviser,” Mr. Stern offers practical guidance on complex issues.
Private Foundations
Mr. Stern has assisted countless clients to establish, obtain tax exemptions for, and, when necessary, dissolve private foundations. He has also helped with regulatory compliance and legal issues, providing guidance to founders, board members, officers, and employees in all aspects of the operation of private foundation and and charitable giving.
Generally
Mr. Stern’s practice includes, among other things:
• incorporating both charitable and non-charitable nonprofit corporations and foundations, and obtaining federal and state tax exempt status;
• nonprofit litigation in the Orphans’ Court Division involving approval of amendment of articles, mergers, divisions, consolidations, dissolutions, cy pres petitions, and related issues;
• estate and trust litigation involving will contests, objections to accounts, surcharges and removal petitions;
• estate planning and preparation of wills and trusts, including irrevocable life insurance trusts, charitable remainder unitrusts, and grantor retained annuity trusts;
• estate and trust administration, including probate, formal accounts, petitions for adjudication, audits, schedules of distribution, and informal receipt and releases;
• federal and state taxes, including Federal Gift Tax Return (709), Federal Estate Tax Return (706), Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Return, and audits in connection therewith;
• federal and state income tax returns, including U.S. Individual Income Tax Return (1040), Pennsylvania Individual Income Tax Return (PA40), U.S. Fiduciary Income Tax Return (1041), Pennsylvania Fiduciary Income Tax Return (PA41), and Split-Interest Trust Returns (Form 5227).
