WYWH: “Artist Legacy and Estate Planning” Clinic

June 17, 2025

By Alexa Donovan

On June 11, 2025, Center for Art Law hosted one of its virtual Artist Legacy and Estate Planning clinics. Artists, attorneys, appraisers, and accountants joined together to learn about and discuss the steps that artists can take to safeguard their their legacies after death — and the essential planning that comes before.

The event began with a keynote address delivered by Candace Dellacona, Principal at Offit Kurman Attorneys At Law, where she advises clients on wills, trusts, and medical directives. Candace gave a presentation entitled “The Art of Legacy: Estate Planning with Revocable Trusts for Artists,” offering a constructive overview on the topics of estate planning and revocable trusts, in addition to comprehensive, artist-specific considerations.

Candace’s introductory remarks covered the key differences between wills and trusts, the property that can be included in trusts, the steps to take when setting up a revocable trust, and important considerations when choosing who will manage an estate.

Candace also discussed how and why revocable trusts can be an important tool for artists looking to preserve their legacies after death, and explained how art-specific trusts work. Specifically, Candace explained that revocable trusts allow artists to maintain control of their artwork during and after their lives, and these revocable trusts can include royalties, copyrights, and archives. Art-specific trusts can determine how the works are displayed, sold, or donated after death, and if irrevocable, can provide potential estate tax savings.

The keynote address then wrapped up with questions from attendees, covering tax issues, trust breaches, and more. Keynote presentation created a strong foundation for the rest of the clinic.

Next artists were paired-off with experts in the field for confidential mock-consultations. Artists were given a chance to ask specific questions and discuss solutions with attorneys, tax advisors, and appraisers. Volunteer experts included Dave Bright (Adjunct Professor of Law, University of Iowa College of Law), Leah Hokenson (Managing Director, Baldwin Brothers, LLC), Charles Rosoff (President, Appraisal Services Associates), and Galina Portnoy (Managing Director, TAG Associates). All have volunteered with the Center and this clinic on a number of previous occasions. Following is some additional information about the volunteers:

• Dave Bright is an adjunct professor of various art law topics at the University of Iowa College of Law, and is the Associate Director of The Larned A. Waterman Iowa Nonprofit Resource Center. He also serves as a Senior Advisor to the American Bar Association International Law Division’s Art & Cultural Heritage Law Committee.
• Leah Hokenson is a Managing Director at Baldwin Brothers, LLC, where she works with artists and collectors on wealth management, in addition to working with families, estates, trusts, and foundations. She is also a member of the Professional Advisors to the Art Market and the NYC Bar Art Law Committee, amongst other professional councils.
• Charles Rosoff, ASA, MRICS, is the President of Appraisal Services Associates. Charles is an accredited Senior Appraiser designated by the American Society of appraisers, and is a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. His firm appraises fine art, antiques, decorative arts, collectibles, and residential and office contents, providing forensic valuations and expert witnessing.
• Galina Portnoy, CPA is a Managing Director at TAG Associates, a wealth management practice. She provides financial advisory services on many issues, including income tax planning, gifts and estates, philanthropy, and more. She has experience advising artists, art dealers, and art investors.

The clinic offered an excellent introduction to trust and estate planning for artists, especially for those who attended the keynote. The Center continues to provide training boot camps and workshops for attorneys interested in practicing trust and estates law. The next session of this clinic will take place on October 15, 2025. For those who missed the Keynote presentation, a recording is archived and accessible to Premium Members.

About the Author

Alexa Donovan (Center for Art Law Summer 2025 Undergraduate Intern) is a senior at NYU studying Art History and Journalism. She is a recipient of the H.W. Janson Scholarship Award for her studies, which include extensive research on museum ethics, deaccessioning, and female representation in contemporary painting. Additionally, she served as the Arts Editor for NYU’s student newspaper, where she wrote about art censorship issues. Alexa is particularly interested in intellectual property law, artists’ rights, and museum collections management.