New York · Estates, Trusts & Tax

Estate planning built on tax judgment.

Every decision about your wealth, your family and your legacy carries tax consequences, from New York estate tax and income tax basis to the valuation and sale of art, real estate and business interests. With an LL.M. in Taxation from NYU, Peter V. Arcese concentrates his practice on estate and trust planning that takes those consequences into account from the start.

He serves individuals, families and creators, and works alongside attorneys whose clients’ matters raise tax questions.

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35+ years: advising on the tax side of estates and trusts
LL.M., Taxation: New York University School of Law
Property-focused: art, real estate, investments, IP and business interests

Planning around what you own

Each kind of property carries its own tax, valuation and transfer rules. Peter’s practice focuses on the property itself, so the plan fits the assets rather than the other way around.

Art & Collectibles
Tangible personal property with special tax and valuation rules, from appraisal and basis to sale, gift and charitable donation.
Real Property
Residences, investment real estate and family property, including transfers to trusts and to the next generation.
Investments
Securities and investment accounts, with attention to income tax basis and the timing of transfers.
Intellectual Property
Copyrights, publishing rights, image rights and licensing income, and who will control them.
Business Interests
LLCs, limited partnerships and S corporations, including succession, valuation and transfer.

Areas of practice

Planning, administration and counsel, with tax strategy integrated at every step rather than added at the end.

01
Estate & Tax Planning
Wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts, powers of attorney and healthcare directives, designed to preserve assets and minimize tax exposure, including for families with property or heirs abroad.
02
Trust Administration & Probate
Guidance for executors and trustees through Surrogate’s Court proceedings, estate and trust tax filings, and distribution.
03
Wealth Transfer Taxation
Gift, estate and generation-skipping transfer tax planning, asset protection and business succession.
04
Charitable & Nonprofit
Charitable gift and philanthropic planning, nonprofit formation and compliance, and artist-endowed foundations.
05
Fiduciary Accountings
Preparation of accountings for individual and corporate fiduciaries in estate and trust matters.
06
Mediation & Conciliation
Trained in transformative and facilitative mediation for family and estate disputes, as an alternative to litigation.

Authors & Artists

Your work is more than an asset. It is your legacy.

Planning for creators decides who will own, value and control the work, and who has the authority to protect its integrity. Peter brings intellectual property knowledge and a tax-focused approach to each engagement.

Authors & literary estates
Artists & collections
Musicians & compositions
Photographers & archives

Services include artist-endowed foundations, and the registration, licensing, donation and disposition of copyrights, publishing rights and image rights.

For Attorneys

Tax counsel for your clients’ matters. Your client remains your client.

For more than 35 years, Peter has worked with lawyers in matrimonial, real estate, business, intellectual property and elder law practices on the tax side of their clients’ matters: identifying exposure early, spotting issues, and developing a strategy the referring attorney can carry forward.

He works within the scope you set and coordinates through you. The client relationship stays with the referring attorney.

Ways to work together

Consultation on a single tax question, by call or meeting
Written analysis of a client’s tax exposure and options
Co-counsel on the tax components of a matter
Mediation of family and estate disputes, as a neutral

When to call

Matrimonial: dividing appreciated assets, retirement accounts or a closely held business
Real estate: family transfers with gift tax or income tax basis consequences
Business: succession, buy-sell arrangements and entity restructuring
Intellectual property: licensing, transfer or donation of copyrights and artwork
Elder law: trust income tax and the estate tax effect of a plan

Discuss a matter

About Peter

For more than 35 years, Peter V. Arcese has advised high-net-worth individuals, families, authors and artists on the tax dimensions of estate planning, wealth transfer, business succession, charitable giving and trust administration.

His practice concentrates on tax-oriented estate and trust planning and administration, with a focus on property: art and collectibles, real property, investments, intellectual property, and business interests held through LLCs, limited partnerships and S corporations. He also prepares accountings for individual and corporate fiduciaries.

Peter has advised, consulted and served as co-counsel on planning and estate matters involving Canada, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Italy, Australia and Singapore.

A trained mediator, Peter is a former co-chair of the ABA Dispute Resolution Section Mediation Committee and an active member of the NYSBA Trusts and Estates Law Section. He is also an adjunct assistant professor at the NYU School of Professional Studies, where he received the Award for Teaching Excellence.

Education: LL.M., Taxation, NYU (1992)
J.D., Hofstra (1988)
Memberships: NYSBA Trusts & Estates Section
ABA Dispute Resolution Section
Teaching: Adjunct Assistant Professor
NYU School of Professional Studies

Insights

Charitable giving · 2026

Two changes to charitable deductions under the OBBBA

Starting in 2026, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) made two important changes to the rules for deducting charitable contributions.

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A new deduction for non-itemizers. Individuals who claim the standard deduction may now deduct cash contributions to public charities, up to $1,000 for single filers and $2,000 for married couples filing jointly. Contributions to donor-advised funds and private foundations do not qualify. Cash includes payments by check, electronic transfer, online payment service, debit or credit card, payroll deduction, or a gift card redeemable for cash. As with any charitable contribution, keep a record of the gift.

A new floor for itemizers. For individuals who itemize, charitable contributions for the year are reduced by 0.5 percent of adjusted gross income.

For example, Patricia, a single taxpayer, has $400,000 of adjusted gross income in 2026 and makes $10,000 of charitable contributions. Her floor is $2,000 (0.5 percent of $400,000), so if she itemizes she may deduct $8,000. At a 35 percent marginal rate, her tax is $700 higher than it would have been without the floor.

To discuss how these changes affect your giving or your estate plan, schedule a consultation.

Schedule a consultation

Peter V. Arcese, Esq., LL.M. Arcese Law · PVA Counsel Attorney and Counselor at Law 11 Broadway, Suite 615 New York, NY 10004

+1 646 261 1200

peter@pvacounsel.com

Estate planning built on tax judgment.

Planning around what you own

Art & Collectibles

Real Property

Investments

Intellectual Property

Business Interests

Areas of practice

Estate & Tax Planning

Trust Administration & Probate

Wealth Transfer Taxation

Charitable & Nonprofit

Fiduciary Accountings

Mediation & Conciliation