Estate Planning for Jewish Clients
Planning a Jewish client’s estate involves more than just the transfer of wealth. To draft a customized plan that achieves a client’s unique goals requires an understanding of the client’s Jewish values and convictions, and religious beliefs. Yet despite the central role religion plays in many clients’ lives, the topic is rarely addressed in the estate planning context where a client’s religious beliefs may actually inform their preferences with respect to the distribution of their wealth, end-of-life care decisions, charitable giving, premarital agreements, adhering to Biblical rules of inheritance, how to draft a living will and other documents, and so much more. In many cases, ensuring that these religious beliefs and traditions are adhered to and passed on to the next generation may even supersede a client’s other estate planning goals.
Robert Berman is a graduate of Harvard University (MPA), Baruch College (MBA), Yeshiva University (BA), Gruss Kollel and Yeshivat Hakotel. He has been published in New York Magazine, the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Week, Moment Magazine, Ha’aretz, Times of Israel, and the Jerusalem Report. He is the founder and director of the Halachic Organ Donor Society.
Mathew E. Hoffman is a litigator with over 30 years of experience. He practices at both the trial and appellate level in the federal and state courts. Mat’s practice includes securities litigations and SEC investigations, FINRA and AAA arbitrations, breach of contract matters, discrimination claims, products liability, takeover litigation, estate and real estate litigation, employee breach of duty and trade secrets claims, as well as a specialty in fine arts litigation.
Martin M. Shenkman is an attorney in private practice in Fort Lee, NJ, and New York City. His practice concentrates on estate and tax planning, planning for closely held business, and estate administration. Mr. Shenkman is an author of over 42 books and more than 1,000 articles. He is an editorial board member of Trusts & Estates Magazine and the Matrimonial Strategist, and an advisor for InterActive Legal. He is the recipient of many awards including being a 2013 recipient of the prestigious Accredited Estate Planners (Distinguished) award from the National Association of Estate Planning Counsels. Mr. Shenkman was named Financial Planning Magazine 2012 Pro-Bono Financial Planner of the Year for his efforts on behalf of those living with chronic illness and disability. Investment Adviser Magazine featured him on the cover of its April 2013 issue naming as the lead of their “all-star lineup of tax experts.”
Rabbi Shlomo Weissmann is the Director of the Beth Din of America. Rabbi Weissmann received rabbinical ordination from RIETS in 2001 and advanced rabbinical ordination (Yadin Yadin) in 2014. He is a graduate of Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar. Prior to his association with the Beth Din of America, Rabbi Weissmann worked as an attorney at several prominent law firms, including Debevoise and Plimpton LLP.