During the administration of a decedent’s estate, an executor performs four basic functions: identifies and collects the decedent’s assets; determines cash needs for payment of expenses and debts, and raises cash to pay the expenses; files any required tax returns, including the decedent’s final personal income tax returns, gift tax returns, estate tax returns, and fiduciary income tax returns, and pays associated taxes; and distributes assets in accordance with the terms of the decedent’s Last Will and Testament.

A case concerning New York State statutory residency for the years 2012 and 2013 was recently decided by an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) in the matter of Nelson Obus. This case reveals specifics of the law surrounding statutory residency, and how that law can potentially trip up taxpayers.

As the financial markets flourish, there continues to be a strong focus on gift and estate planning opportunities available to hedge fund and private equity fund managers. The inherent compensation structure, including the “carried interest,” presents a unique opportunity for advisors to formulate wealth-transfer strategies for the fund manager’s future generations.