Lowenstein Sandler's Trusts & Estates Podcast: Splitting Heirs

Hosted by Lowenstein Sandler LLP

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May 2026

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An information packed and hopefully entertaining guide to estate planning and the world of trusts and estates. Estate planning really involves thinking about the people and things that are most important to you—family, loved ones, charitable causes and everything else that gives your life meaning. Religious leaders, wealth advisors, divorce attorneys and others will team up with experienced trusts and estates lawyers from Lowenstein Sandler to offer you creative, outside the box approaches to achieving your estate planning goals.

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May 19, 2026Episode 2330 min

Putting the Gratitude in GRATs—Understanding the Financial Planning and Psychological Effects of This and Other Tax Saving Ideas

In this episode of Splitting Heirs, host Warren K. Racusin invites Lowenstein partner Michael N. Gooen and Dr. Paul Hokemeyer, the founding principal of Drayson Mews, a mental health advisory firm that counsels wealthy individuals and families on mental health issues, to discuss the tax planning technique known as a grantor retained annuity trust ("GRAT"). The conversation explains the tax benefits of a GRAT, as well as the nuances required to successfully carry it out. The episode also analyzes the psychological effects first generation wealth and inherited fortunes can have if not planned for carefully. Speakers: Warren K. Racusin, Of Counsel, Trusts & Estates Michael N. Gooen, Partner, Trusts & Estates Dr. Paul Hokemeyer, (J.D., Ph.D.), Founder and Principal, Drayson Mews

January 27, 2026Episode 2127 min

The Art of the Steal—Estate planning for writers, artists and composers (with just a little bit of copyright law)

In this episode of Splitting Heirs, host Warren K. Racusin invites Lowenstein partner Matt Savare and Bart Feller, Principal flute of the New Jersey Symphony, New York City Opera Orchestra, and Santa Fe Opera Orchestra, to break down copyright law for music and other original works and to talk about the importance of estate planning for creatives. The conversation covers the terms of a copyright, including author rights, for hire and not for hire stipulations, and termination timelines. The episode also analyzes examples of similar songs, determining whether or not the musician may be infringing copyright on the original work. Speakers: Warren K. Racusin, Partner and Chair, Trusts & Estates Bart Feller, Principal flute of the New Jersey Symphony, New York City Opera Orchestra, and Santa Fe Opera Orchestra Matt Savare, Partner, Chair, Commercial Contracts, Emerging Companies & Venture Capital, IP & Tech Transactions, Patent Counseling & Prosecution

October 3, 2025Episode 2029 min

The Curious Case of the Kid with Five Parents—Estate planning for assisted reproductive technology

In this episode of Splitting Heirs, host Warren K. Racusin sits down with Deb Guston, partner Guston & Guston, LLP, and Kim Mutcherson, professor of law at Rutgers Law School, to discuss estate planning for non-traditional family structures, including surrogacy, adoption, sperm and egg donors, and frozen embryos. They outline different circumstances in which inheritance may be questioned and how to properly plan to avoid legal complications. Speakers: Warren K. Racusin, Partner and Chair, Trusts & EstatesDeb Guston, Partner, Guston & Guston, LLPKimberly Mutcherson, Professor of Law, Rutgers Law School

May 20, 2025Episode 127 min

Going Once, Going Twice…(but who's it going to? And what's it worth?)

Host Warren K. Racusin, Chair of Lowenstein's Trusts & Estates practice, invites Meghan M. Federman and Joanne Mournet, President at DOYLE Auctioneers & Appraisers, to cover how estate planning for art and valuables differs from traditional estate planning. Racusin and Federman discuss the legal considerations and tax implications, trusts, and insurance, while Mournet concludes with exciting anecdotes from her experience on the auction side. Speakers: Warren K. Racusin, Partner and Chair, Trusts & EstatesMeghan M. Federman, Counsel, Private Client ServicesJoanne Mournet, President, Doyle Auctioneers & Appraisers

December 23, 2024Episode 1829 min

Grave Reservations: Everything You Didn't Realize You Want to Know About Cemeteries

Host Warren K. Racusin, Chair of Lowenstein's Trusts & Estates practice, talks about the law and lore of cemeteries with Eric D. Weinstock, and Rich Moylan, president of Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. They discuss the regulations governing the upkeep and maintenance of these hallowed grounds, the rules about ownership of funeral plots, and the history and architecture of Green-Wood—sprinkling the conversation with some appropriately dark humor. Speakers: Warren K. Racusin, Partner and Chair, Trusts & EstatesEric D. Weinstock, Senior Counsel, Trusts & EstatesRichard Moylan, President, Green-Wood Cemetery Music credits: Lacrimosa – Mozart, Cover by Vivienne Sängerin - https://www.youtube.com/@viviennesaengerin I Met Somebody on the Way to the Cemetery – Mark Bishop, ℗ 2023 Sonlite Records

October 31, 2024Episode 1728 min

Can't Kick the Can Any More—How the Expiring Tax Cuts Could Affect You

On this episode of "Splitting Heirs," partner Warren K. Racusin, Chair of Lowenstein's Trusts & Estates practice, invites Beth Shapiro Kaufman, Lowenstein Sandler partner and National Chair of the Private Client Services group, and Sandra Swirski, founder of the bipartisan advocacy firm Integer, to discuss how the upcoming 2024 presidential election may affect the taxes you have to pay--exclusions (including the 'deceased spousal unused exclusion' or DSUE), and other tax cuts expected to expire soon. In addition to examining the impact of these sunsetting cuts on a particular client, they also address the political and legislative factors that influence these kinds of changes. Speakers: Warren K. Racusin, Partner and Chair, Trusts & Estates Beth Shapiro Kaufman, Partner, National Chair, Private Client Services Sandra Swirski, Founder, Integer

September 17, 2024Episode 1627 min

The Sad Case of Lovey and Hubby (Part 2)

On this episode of "Splitting Heirs," Warren K. Racusin welcomes back Sharon L. Klein, President of Family Wealth for the Eastern US Region of Wilmington Trust Company and member of the Estate Planning Hall of Fame, to continue their discussion of Lovey and Hubby, two clients who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary and then became embroiled in an extremely contentious divorce. The discussion centers on whether irrevocable trusts, into which marital assets were transferred during the course of the marriage, can be considered part of the marital balance sheet during a divorce. Warren and Sharon also address spousal limited access trusts, the concept of the "floating spouse," tax liability for grantor trusts, and how estate planning attorneys guide clients through the most difficult periods in their lives. Speakers: Warren K. Racusin, Partner and Chair, Trusts & EstatesSharon L. Klein, EVP, President - Family Wealth, Eastern U.S. Region & Head of National Divorce Advisory Practice, Wilmington Trust, N.A.

July 23, 2024Episode 1532 min

All in the Family: Succession Issues in Family-Owned Businesses

On this episode of "Splitting Heirs," Warren K. Racusin talks with Lowenstein partner Nick San Filippo, Chair of the firm's Business Divorce practice, and Jeff Savlov, a partner in the family business and wealth consulting firm Blum & Savlov, about the challenges facing family-owned businesses when disputes arise between parents and children, siblings, or other relatives. Observing that an unwillingness to address uncomfortable issues about succession planning and the future of the business often leads to conflict when the matriarch or the patriarch passes away, San Filippo emphasizes the need for a clearly constructed shareholders' agreement so that all parties are clear on governance, documentation, and succession issues: who will lead the business, how will owners get paid, how should distributions should be made out of the business to cover taxes or distribute profits? The lawyers also encourage families to review these documents periodically as life circumstances and priorities may evolve over time. Speakers: Warren K. Racusin, Partner and Chair, Trusts & EstatesNicholas San Filippo IV, Partner Co-chair, Business DivorceJeff Savlov, Partner, Blum & Savlov

April 30, 2024Episode 1430 min

Death and Dirt: Addressing the Injustices of the Past in Heirs Property

Today on "Splitting Heirs," host Warren Racusin speaks with Molefi McIntosh and Mavis Gragg about the "heirs' property problem--" or what happens to real estate when it is passed down within families without benefit of a will. The guests address the historical and legal impact as well as the economic and racial inequities that resulted from the fractionalization of real estate down through multiple generations, as well as recent efforts to right the injustices of the past through such legislation as the Uniform Partition of Heirs' Property Act, and new technology that leverages data to clear title. Speakers: Warren K. Racusin, Partner and Chair, Trusts & Estates Molefi McIntosh, Associate, Private Client Services Mavis Gragg, Co-Founder, HeirShares

February 27, 2024Episode 1332 min

The Divorce, the Innocent Spouse, and the $78,000 Mercedes

Host Warren K. Racusin welcomes Melissa L. Wiley of Lowenstein's Tax practice and Elie Honig, CNN senior legal analyst, former federal prosecutor, and special counsel in Lowenstein's White Collar Criminal Defense practice, to the "Splitting Heirs" podcast to discuss the case of DeGuzman vs. the Commissioner of Internal Revenue, where a wealthy couple splits up and gets into a fight about responsibility for tax liability incurred during their marriage. The lawyers examine the concept of "the innocent spouse," the differences between criminal tax fraud and civil tax fraud, how tax laws can be used to bring down organized crime bosses, (and why Hermes bags always seem to figure prominently in these kinds of cases). Speakers: Warren K. Racusin, Partner and Chair, Trusts & EstatesElie Honig, Special Counsel, White Collar Criminal DefenseMelissa Wiley, Partner, Tax