Christopher G. Mehne

Updated estate plan reflects tax minimization, charitable giving and post-retirement income

Chris has recently been working with a married couple he’s known for years. “This is common in my practice,” Chris notes. “Our children grew up together, then we became friends, and then they became clients. I started out years ago preparing the couple’s basic estate planning documents, and we’re now on our third plan update.” As part of their current update, Chris advised the clients on several charitable giving techniques. He negotiated gift agreements with their alma maters and a local community foundation and also created a charitable remainder trust which will benefit a number of charities when the couple are deceased. “Meanwhile,” Chris adds, “the trust generates income for the clients during their retirement years.” Chris is also handling a complex series of investment and insurance transactions that minimize tax liability and maximize post-retire income. Chris serves as co-trustee for the couple’s estate plan.

A holistic solution to a thorny family disagreement with a Trustee

A client on Cape Cod is a Trustee for a trust created by a longtime friend of his. With Chris acting as advisor, the Trustee faced litigation with the friend’s family members involving valuable real estate that had to be sold. “There were complex, competing interests within the family,” Chris explained, “reflecting a second marriage and multiple generations.” Thanks to Chris’ listening skills and technical help, the client and the family members reached a compromise. “The settlement included the sale of the real estate and the establishment of a continuing trust for the benefit of the youngest generation of the family.” The family and the Trustee settled the dispute without litigation.