Bio

Protecting hard-earned family wealth through careful estate and tax planning is Stephen Putnoki-Higgins’ dedicated focus. Bringing New York energy and a Master of Laws in Taxation to Florida-based families and companies (many of whom also hail originally from the Northeast), allows him to strategically focus his legal practice on the tax, estate planning, business planning, and estate administration needs of sophisticated individuals and their families. With a combination of compassion and cutting-edge strategy, Stephen guides his clients, through pro-active and highly-prepared-and-customized assistance, in achieving their key tax and non-tax goals, such as probate avoidance and the preservation of familial harmony. His practice also strategically assists in transfer tax planning for high-net worth individuals, including closely-held business owners and other professionals, and he utilizes a variety of sophisticated techniques such as trust modification and decanting, dynasty trusts, sales to grantor trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, and more, to accomplish his clients’ goals. Stephen is additionally highly experienced in estate administration; assisting fiduciaries and beneficiaries alike through all aspects of the process, including probate, contested estates, tax, and post-mortem estate planning issues. His aim is to make these difficult life transitions go as smoothly and expeditiously as possible. Stephen also regularly advises individuals and their consultants regarding the formation of tax-exempt organizations and other non-profit entities, in addition to assisting with the compliance, structural, operational, and governance-related issues clients face in administering these entities. LL.M., Master of Law in Taxation, New York University School of Law, 2011, J.D., University of Connecticut, School of Law, 2010, B.A., University of Connecticut, 2007,