- Divorce
- Child Custody and Visitation
- Premarital AgreementProtect the inheritance of your client’s heirs and ensure wealth is not diverted, in case a child’s marriage fails or there’s some other attack by a plaintiff’s lawyer. A properly structured trust for the benefit of a child or grandchild under a will or revocable trust can serve to secure an inheritance from an estranged spouse. It’s also important to evaluate how these benefits can be enhanced through a prenuptial agreement or other prenuptial planning measures. Such a trust can insulate the assets from attacks resulting from personal or professional liability, creditors and other legal claims.
- Spousal SupportWhile we always support and encourage harmony and reconciliation, if there must be a decision to legally separate or complete a divorce, your client may want to do so before year end. Otherwise, moving forward, the payer of alimony will no longer get a deduction on their tax return, and the recipient will no longer have to include the alimony as taxable income.
- Limited Liability Companies· Eliminate valuation discounts on the transfer of private businesses, including family partnerships and limited liability companies – frequently used to compress gift and estate values to minimize taxation.
- Intellectual Property
- Real Estate TransactionsPhi sigma alpha for excellence in his major field of study and received his Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law. He practiced law for five years with the Wall Street law firm of Dewey Ballantine and with the national law firm of Jones, Day, Reavis & Pogue, with a concentration on estate planning and real estate transactions. In 1991, he formed his own firm representing individuals and families around the country and the globe who, through diligence and commitment, have achieved success in many aspects of their lives. Mr. McManus participated in several estate planning and bar associations including a board membership on the Northern New Jersey Estate Planning Council where he recently completed his term as President of the Council. John also served on the Committee on Estates, Trusts and Surrogate’s Courts of the Bar Association of the City of New York and the Committee on Real Property, Probate and Trusts of the American Bar Association. Furthermore, Mr. McManus is a member of the prestigious Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and the European American Chamber of Commerce in New York. After 10 years of receiving Martindale Hubbell’s highest rating (AV) as a practicing attorney, he was named to the
- Green Cards
- Estate PlanningEstate planning and wealth and family values protection is an ongoing process in which McManus & Associates assists its clients to maximize the transfer of wealth through generations, to minimize the estate tax, and to realize personal and family goals through clear and concise directions. As with any structure, the base of the estate plan must be built on stable ground. However, there may be situations in which a client may need to transcend the prescribed levels and have our office prepare documents on a “higher” level without completing the level directly preceding. Please contact our office for specific recommendations for your exact estate planning and wealth transfer needs.
- WillsLast wills and testaments name spouse, children, and other beneficiaries to receive estate assets in protective trusts as well as fiduciaries to administer the estate.
- TrustsThrough the creation of a family foundation and charitable trust, your charitable giving continues to live on long after you pass away.
- Power of AttorneyIn terms of litigation, McManus & Associates represents executors of estates when challenged by beneficiaries. We have also been involved in matters where use of a power of attorney caused disharmony among family members, and we have challenged wills and lifetime transfers based on lack of capacity and undue influence. Moreover, the firm has handled will reformations to achieve the testator’s intent and the admission of improperly executed wills to probate.
- Probate
- Tax LawIf you believe that your audit risk is higher than average or want to take a more conservative approach with your income taxes, having McManus & Associates prepare your returns can give you comfort knowing that information frequently requested by the IRS is protected by the attorney-client privilege – a benefit not enjoyed when working with an accounting firm. Further, as a law firm, McManus & Associates is ready to respond to controversy including the threat of litigation, if necessary. We believe that when the IRS sees that a law firm has signed a return, a chilling effect is created, possibly causing the agency to think twice before pursuing an investigation of your tax matters. Further, submitting a tax return with a law firm signature communicates that you are serious about the preparation of your returns.