Marissa Dungey

Practice Overview

My practice focuses on gift and estate tax planning and trust structuring, and I work closely with individuals and families to achieve their tax and non-tax goals. While estate tax is often front of mind as a reason to plan, in many instances, it's the non-tax goals that drive the planning. Similarly, when planning with trusts, it's frequently the non-estate tax benefits afforded by trusts that appeal to clients the most including creditor protection for beneficiaries (e.g. from future divorcing spouses) and the potential for income tax savings for beneficiaries living in high tax states. As a result, it's an important part of the estate planning process to get to know my clients and I start off engagements with a questionnaire to learn their background.

Estate planning is a fluid process and I take a holistic approach by considering family circumstances, assets and how they are titled, and existing trusts, in an effort to provide a more comprehensive, coordinated and efficient plan. Each of my clients is unique, and deserves a tailored solution. I enjoy being creative when the need arises, which is often the case with a number of my clients who own complex assets, including hedge fund and private equity, interests in closely held business, or who are beneficiaries of existing trusts, because of the tax and trust law limitations that can inhibit desired planning. There are also frequently overriding practical or business considerations with these types of interests that make it important to find solutions that may be outside the traditional plan that are workable without overly complicating the structure.

Why I Created Dungey Dougherty PLLC

I am fortunate to love what I do and I hope to be able to continue my practice for a long time. With that mindset, it was important to me to have a platform that would give me the tools to support my practice so that I can do it sustainably to the best of my ability. For me, that means ensuring I am dependable to my clients and technically sound in the analysis and implementation of planning.

Dependable: I want my clients to feel they can depend on me, that I'll be there when they or their loved ones need me, and that I'm looking out for them. To do this, Dungey Dougherty is committed to having a team big enough to ensure that we have capacity to help when unexpected needs arise, the ability to keep our clients organized and on top of periodic trust maintenance, and provide continuity in the team. For example, we have client portals available for secure access to documents for clients and their authorized parties that will assist with organization and communication among advisors. Equally important is that the firm's values and culture will support its team members, personally and professionally, because the cohesion of the team will enhance our ability to serve our clients.
Technically sound: As much as I value the personal relationships, I also love the academic and technical nature of the practice. It demands staying abreast of developments in the law, regulatory guidance and case law, critical analysis of the planning and a focus on the language. For this reason, I monitor for developments, attend conferences, keep model documents up-to-date, and actively participate in the bar. I currently chair a subcommittee considering proposed legislation in Connecticut, hold leadership positions in the American Bar Association as noted below, and I regularly publish and present on relevant topics in my practice. Through these endeavors and by training and developing members of the team, we aim to provide top-notch, technically sound planning and documents to achieve the planning goals.

Volunteer

American Bar Association, Real Property Trust and Estate Law Section

Co-Chair Business Planning Group, 2022-present
Vice-Chair of Trusts and Estates CLE Committee, 2020-present
Planning Committee, 2023-2024
Past Appointments:
- Nominations Committee, 2022-2023
- Vice-Chair of Business Planning Group, 2020-2022
- Chair and Vice-Chair of Business Investment Entities Committee, 2016-2020
- Chair and Vice-Chair of Non-Tax Issues Affecting the Planning and Administration of Trusts and Estates, 2016-2019
- Member of Trusts and Estates CLE Committee, 2015-2020

Connecticut Bar Association

Executive Committee of Estates and Probate Section, 2015-present
Pro Bono Committee, 2013-2016

Recognition

Winner of the USA Rising Star of the Year Award by Chambers HNW Awards 2021

Chambers High Net Worth, Private Wealth Law - Connecticut, 2021-2023

Best Lawyers in America, 2022 and 2023

Elected as a Fellow of The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC), 2020

Super Lawyer for Connecticut, 2023

Super Lawyers Rising Star for Connecticut, 2016-2022

Recipient of Trusts & Estates 2017 Distinguished Author Award in the category of Philanthropy Planning for the article "The Rising Tide Carry CLAT"

American Bar Association, Real Property, Trust & Estate Law Section, Dennis I. Belcher ACTEC Young Leader, 2016-2018

American Bar Association, Real Property, Trust & Estate Law Section, TE Fellow, 2014-2016

Admissions

State of Connecticut, 2009

State of New York, 2010

Education

Boston College Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif

New York University, B.A., cum laude, History and Politics double major

Bar Memberships

American Bar Association

Connecticut Bar Association

New York Bar Association

Greenwich Bar Association

Contributions to the Field

Adjunct Professor at Quinnipiac Law School, 2021-present

Publications

Author, "Career Development and Wellness: Learning to Identify and Prioritize Your Priorities," Probate & Property, March/April 2024.
Co-Author, "A Primer on Planning with the Annual Exclusion," Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Journal, Fall/Winter 2023.
Co-Author, "Biden's 2024 Green Book Tax Proposals: What 'fair share' taxation means for estate planning," Probate & Property, September/October 2023.
Co-Author, "Biden's 2024 Green Book Tax Proposals: What 'fair share' taxation means for estate planning," Trusts & Estates, Wealthmanagement.com, March 15, 2023.
Co-Author, "Summary of Proposed Legislation: The Connecticut Uniform Trust Decanting Act," CBA Estates & Probate Section Newsletter, February 2023.
Co-Author, "Private Trust Companies," The Practical Lawyer, December 2022.
Author, "Section 2701 and Planning with Fund Interests," ALI-CLE Estate Planning Course Materials Journal, July 2022.
Co-Author, "Biden's 2023 Green Book Tax Proposals: A summary of the policies after Build Back Better," Trusts and Estates, June 2022.
Co-Author, "Biden's Tax Policy After Build Back Better: A summary of the key provisions of the Green Book," Trusts & Estates, Wealthmanagement.com, March 31, 2022.
Co-Author, "Latest Update on Build Back Better for Estate Planners," Trusts & Estates, Wealthmanagement.com, November 10, 2021.
Co-Author, "Estate Planner's Guide to the Latest Version of Build Back Better," Trusts & Estates, Wealthmanagement.com, November 3, 2021.
Co-Author, "The 2021 Green Book's Focus on Income Taxes: Biden Seeks to Shift the Paradigm Further," Trusts and Estates, September 2021.
Co-Author, "The Estate Planning Implications of Biden's Recently Issued Green Book," Wealthmanagement.com, June 2, 2021.
Co-Author, "The Practitioner's Comprehensive Guide to Estate Planning After Comprehensive Federal and Connecticut Tax Reform," Connecticut Bar Association, Estates & Probate Newsletter, August 2018.
Co-Author, "Maximizing the Increased Federal Transfer Tax Exemptions," American Bar Association, June 2018.
Co-Author, "The Rising Tide Carry CLAT,' Trust and Estates, October 2016.
Author, "Uniform Law Update: Uniform Trust Decanting Act," Probate & Property Magazine, May/June 2016.
Co-Author, "Gain From the Value of a Good Valuation," Probate & Property Magazine, September/October 2014.
Co-Author, "IRS Attacks Common Estate Planning Technique in Estate of Woelbing," CBA Estates & Probate Section Newsletter, June 2014.
Co-Author, "Trusts Can Materially Participate in Trade or Business: Taxpayer Victory in Frank Aragona Trust v. Commissioner," Wealthmanagement.com, April 2014.
Co-Author, "Unwrapping the Net, Net Gift," Trusts & Estates, February 2014.
Co-Author, "Intra-Family Loans to Provide Liquidity for Estates 25 Years After Graegin," Connecticut Bar Association, Estates & Probate Newsletter, January 2014.
Author, "IRS Provides Relief for Small Estates to Make a Late Portability Election," Wealthmanagement.com, February 3, 2014.
Co-Author, "IRS SCINs a Cat: CCA 201330033 Limits Use of Mortality Tables," Trusts & Estates, Wealthmanagement.com, August 2013.

Presentations

"Navigating Estate and Gift Tax Laws: Updates and Strategies," Greenwich Bar Association, November 2023.
"Maximizing Annual Exclusion Planning," NYSBA Trusts and Estates Law Section's 19^th Annual Sophisticated Trusts and Estates Law Institute, New York, New York, November 2023.
"Annual Exclusion Planning with Grandchildren,” 35^th Annual RPTE National CLE Conference, Washington DC, May 2023.
"Tax Considerations in Drafting Trusts," ABA RPTE Skills Training Program, August 2022.
"Private Trust Companies,” ALI-CLE Planning Techniques for Large Estate 2022, May 2022.
"Keeping (Women) Lawyers in Practice,” 34^th Annual RPTE National CLE Conference, April 2022.
"Estate Planning for Principals of Private Equity and Hedge Funds," ACTEC Foundation, https://actecfoundation.org/podcasts/estate-planning-principals-private-equity-hedge-funds, March 2022.
"Recent Federal and Connecticut Tax Developments That Impact Connecticut Estate Planners," Estates and Probate Section of the Connecticut Bar Association, March 2022.
"Estate Planning with Specialty Assets: Carried Interest, SPACs, and QOZ Funds," ACTEC ALI-CLE Webinar, January 2022.
"Pending Federal Legislation on Transfer and Wealth Taxes," Greenwich Bar Association, September 2021.
"Chapter 14 Soup to Nuts: A Practitioners Guide Through the Minefield," ABA Section of Real Property, Trust & Estate Law eCLE Webinar, September 2021.
“Estate Planning and Carried Interest: Estate Tax Reduction Strategies for Private Equity and Hedge Fund Founders,” Strafford Webinar, September 2021.
"Tax Considerations in Drafting Trusts," ABA RPTE Skills Training Program, August 2021.
“The Estate Planner as a Third Wheel: How to Stay Out of the Doghouse When Representing Married Clients,” Trusts & Estates Seminar: Trending Topics and Issues in Wealth Planning, July 2021.
"Pitfalls in Partnership Tax for Planners,” 33^rd Annual RPTE National CLE Conference, May 2021.
"Recent Federal and Connecticut Tax Developments That Impact Connecticut Estate Planners," Estates and Probate Section of the Connecticut Bar Association, April 2021.
“Tax Planning for Closely-Held Business Interests Before a Liquidity Event,” ABA Section of Taxation Fall Tax Meeting, September 2020.
“Estate Planning and Carried Interest: Estate Tax Reduction Strategies for Private Equity and Hedge Fund Founders,” Strafford webinar, September 2020.
“Tax Considerations in Drafting Trust Issues,” ABA RPTE Skills Training Program, August 2020.
“Tax Planning for Closely-Held Business Interests Before a Liquidity Event,” 32^nd Annual RPTE National CLE Conference, May 2020.
‘Planning the Estate Multijurisdictional Estate Planning with a Family Business,' guest lecture at Columbia University Business School,” April 2020.
“Recent Federal and Connecticut Tax Developments That Impact Connecticut Estate Planners,” Estates and Probate Section of the Connecticut Bar Association, March 2020.
“Connecticut's New ‘Uniform' Trust Code,” Fairfield County Bar Association, February 2020.
“Planning with Fund Interests,” for J.P. Morgan Greenwich, February 2020.
“Estate Planning and Carried Interest: Estate Tax Reduction Strategies for Private Equity and Hedge Fund Founders,” Strafford Webinar, September 2020.
“Planning the Estate Multijurisdictional Estate Planning with a Family Business,” guest lecture at Columbia University Business School, July 2019.
“Drafting Considerations for Estate and Trust Planning', ABA RPTE Skills Training Program, Columbia, South Carolina, July 2019.
“Death and Taxes - Estate Tax Return Preparation,” ABA Section of Real Property, Trust & Estate Law eCLE Webinar, April 2019.
“Estate Planning for Resident and Non-Resident Aliens - Navigating Estate, Gift and GST Tax Rules; Leveraging Estate and Lifetime Gifting Opportunities,” Strafford Publications Webinar, January 2019.
“Planning the Estate: Multijurisdictional Estate Planning with a Family Business,” Columbia University Business School Family Business Management, November 2018.
”Planning with a Family Business: Beyond the Estate Tax”, ABA Section of Real Property, Trust & Estate Law eCLE Webinar, October 2018.
“Estate Planning and Carried Interest: Estate Tax Reduction Strategies for Private Equity and Hedge Fund Founders,” Strafford webinar, September 2018.
“Planning the Estate: Multijurisdictional Estate Planning with a Family Business,” guest lecture at Columbia University Business School, July 2018.
“Family Business Planning Including Chapter 14 Implications,” ABA RPTE Skills Training Program (Advanced Topics) New York, New York, July 2018.
“Planning with a Family Business: Beyond the Estate Tax,” 30^th Annual RPTE Spring Symposium, Orlando, Florida, May 2018.
“Section 199A - Planning to Maximize the Deduction,” ABA RPTE eCLE webinar, April 2018.
“Planning the Estate: Multijurisdictional Estate Planning with a Family Business,” guest lecturer at Columbia University Business School, November 2017.
“Estate Planning and Carried Interest: Estate Tax Reduction Strategies for Private Equity and Hedge Fund Founders,” Strafford webinar, August 2017.
“Family Business Planning Including Chapter 14 Implications,” ABA RPTE Skills Training Program (Advanced Topics), New York, New York, July 2017.
“Federal Issues in Estate Administration,' for the ABA Section of Real Property, Trust & Estate Law (Non-Tax Estate Planning Considerations Group), June 2017.
“Planning the Estate: Multijurisdictional Estate Planning including Interplay with Tax Treaties,” guest lecturer at Columbia University Business School, June 2017.
“Federal Post-Mortem Estate Planning Issues and 2016/2017 Developments,” Estates and Probate Section of the Connecticut Bar Association, New Haven, CT, May 2017.
“The Bad and Ugly of Trust Drafting,' Federal Tax Institute of New England, Portland, CT, November 2016.
“Personal Finance Seminar,” Notre Dame Women Connect, October 2016.
“Planning the Estate: Multijurisdictional Estate Planning including Interplay with Tax Treaties,” guest lecturer at Columbia University Business School, August 2016.
“Estate Tax Return (Form 706) Preparation,” ABA Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Paralegal eLearning Program, August 2016.
“Tax Consequences of Trusts,” National Business Institute (NBI), July 2016.
“Planning the Estate: Cross Border Income and Transfer Tax for Families and Individuals, Including Wealth Transfer Techniques and Trusts', guest lecturer at Columbia University Business School, June 2016.
“It's Time to Come Ashore: Tax Planning Strategies in the Wake of IRC Section 457A,” Greenwich, CT, May 2016.
“Avoiding International Entanglements for the Domestic Estate Planning Attorney,” 28^th Annual RPTE Spring Symposia, Boston, MA, May 2016.
“Tax Consequences of Trusts,” National Business Institute (NBI), April 2016.
“Estate Tax Preparation and Audit Mitigation Strategies,” ABA Section of Taxation and Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law, Trust and Estate Division, 2015 Joint Fall CLE Meeting, Chicago, IL, September 2015.
“Family Business Planning Including Chapter 14 Implications,” ABA RPTE Skills Training Program (Advanced Topics), New York, NY, July 2015.
“Grantor Trusts,” National Business Institute (NBI) Seminar ‘Trusts 101,' June 2015.
“Introduction to Estate Tax Returns, Estate Expenses and Deductions,” ABA Real Property, Trust & Estate Law Section's 2015 Paralegal eLearning Program: ‘From Undertaker to Litigator and Steps in Between,' June 2015.
“Wealth Planning for Fund Carried Interests and Related Chapter 14 Implications,” ABA Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Section's Business Planning Group, May 2015.
“Tax Consequences of Trusts,” National Business Institute (NBI), May 2015.
“Wealth Transfer Planning for Fund Carried Interests and Related Chapter 14 Implications,” 15th Annual New York State Society of CPAs Westchester Tax, Estate and Financial Planning Conference, May 2015.
“Planning to Avoid Indirect and Other Unanticipated Gifts with Business Entities,” ABA Section of Real Property, Trust & Estate Law's Estate Planning and Real Property Spring Symposium, May 2015.
“Wealth Planning, US Transfer Taxes and the Taxation of Trusts,” Charles F. Dolan School of Business, Fairfield University, April 2015.
“Legal Concerns Relevant to the New Generation,” Columbia University Business School Family Business Club Conference 2015, February 2015.
“Role of Lawyers as Advisors in Family Businesses,” Columbia University Business School, February 2015.
“Advanced Estate and Trust Administration,” National Business Institute (NBI) Seminar, June 2014.
“Wealth Transfer Planning for Fund Carried Interests and Related Chapter 14 Implications,” sponsored by The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven, June 2014.
“Wealth Planning, US Transfer Taxes and the Taxation of Trusts,' Charles F. Dolan School of Business, Fairfield University, April 2014.
“Chapter 14 in 2014: IRS Continues its Attack under Chapter 14 Valuation Rules,” ABA Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law, March 2014.