Happy New Year From Eckert Byrne
Dear Friends,
Our team at Eckert Byrne would like to wish you a very happy new year! As we step into 2026, we want to thank you for your continued trust and partnership. We are also excited to welcome back attorney Nicole Simon, who has returned from her maternity leave.
As of now, we are once again scheduling our Legal Check-Up meetings. This meeting is the perfect time to generally review your estate plan, discuss any changes or additions to your plan that you’d like to make, as well as receive attorney recommendations considering laws that have changed since you have last met with us.
A new year also means updates to tax laws. Here is a summary of where key tax figures stand for 2026:
- Massachusetts Estate Tax Exemption: $2,000,000 per person (no change)
- Federal Estate Tax Exemption: $15,000,000 per person (increased)
- Annual Gift Tax Exclusion: $19,000 per recipient. This is $38,000 per recipient for married couples (no change)
- Retirement Annual Contribution Limits
- 401(k) plans, 403(b) plans, governmental 457 plans, and Thrift Savings Plan: $24,500 for those below age 50, $32,500 for those ages 50 and up, or $35,750 for those ages 60-63 (increased)
- IRAs: $7,500 for those below age 50 or $8,600 for those age 50 and up (increased). Income ranges for deductible traditional IRA contributions have also increased. (Please see more detail on the IRS’ website here)
If you are a member of our Annual Maintenance Program, keep an eye out for our 2026 Technical Report in the next few weeks, which will delve deeper into topics of interest and changes in key laws in 2026.
For our past clients interested in joining the Annual Maintenance Program, you can review the information on our website and enroll directly online.
If you would like to explore reviewing your plan, please feel free to reach out to Christina or call our office to schedule a Legal Check-Up at your convenience.
Sincerely,
The Eckert Byrne LLC Team