- 40 - Morton’s primary reason for transferring the Portfolio to the Partnership was to create an arrangement that would protect from Lynn’s creditors, the assets that Lynn would receive or inherit from Morton. * * * * * * * * * * Once Morton learned of the [arbitration] award and its seriousness, he knew that he needed to address his concerns about Lynn’s handling of her finances in a different manner than that provided in the Trust. Pursuant to Article V of the Trust agreement, on Morton’s death, Lynn’ [sic] share would be distributed to her outright. Following such distribution, Lynn would have the responsibility to manage her assets and Lynn’s creditors could reach them without restriction or limitation. This was unacceptable to Morton. * * * * * * * Therefore, by placing Michael in charge of the Partnership and providing by gift and on Morton’s death that all but a fraction of Lynn’s interest would be held as a limited partner, Morton addressed his concerns about Lynn. Lynn’s creditors would be inhibited due to the legal limitations of collecting a judgment from a limited partner’s interest. [Citations omitted.] The emphasis of this discussion is patently post mortem as opposed to inter vivos. Hence, not only the objective evidence concerning HFLP’s history but also the subjective motivation underlying the entity’s creation support an inference that the arrangement was primarily testamentary in nature. The objective record belies any significant predeath change, particularly from the standpoint of economic benefit, in the partners’ relationship to the assets. Likewise, the subjective impetus promptingPage: Previous 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 Next
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