John M. Goralka
John M. Goralka is Senior Counsel at CunninghamLegal in Sacramento, California. John joined CunninghamLegal because of the firm's high degree of professionalism, commitment to client service and creative ability to provide solutions. CunninghamLegal maintains offices throughout California. For decades, John has helped thousands of families and business owners protect, preserve and pass on their wealth with confidence.
Through The Goralka Law Firm, founded in 1996, Mr. Goralka and his team built a reputation for designing practical, tax-efficient estate plans that truly worked when families needed them most. He is one of the few attorneys in California who is dual-certified as a Specialist in both Taxation Law and Estate Planning, Trust & Probate Law by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.
Mr. Goralka earned his J.D. (with distinction) and LL.M. in Taxation from McGeorge School of Law. John is recognized by Best Lawyers in America and holds an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest possible rating for legal ability and ethics.
John passed the uniform CPA exam and is recognized as a Northern California Superlawyer. His consistent honors have been earned through decades of client-centered results. John writes regularly for Kiplinger, MSN, MSN UK, CPA Practice Advisor and the Kiplinger Tax Newsletter.
Email: Team@Cunninghamlegal.com | Website: www.cunninghamlegal.com
Latest articles by John M. Goralka
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Take It From a Tax Attorney: This Is a Magic Multimillion-Dollar Tax-Saving Strategy
The qualified small business 1202 stock exemption is a $10 million exclusion that seems too good to be true and is often overlooked.
By John M. Goralka
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Five Things You Can Learn From Jimmy Buffett's Estate Dispute
The dispute over Jimmy Buffett's estate highlights crucial lessons for the rest of us on trust creation, including the importance of co-trustee selection, proactive communication and options for conflict resolution.
By John M. Goralka
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Think a Repeal of the Estate Tax Wouldn't Affect You? Wrong
The wording of any law that repeals or otherwise changes the federal estate tax could have an impact on all of us. Here's what you need to know, courtesy of an estate planning and tax attorney.
By John M. Goralka
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A $1 Billion Divorce: What You Can Learn From It
An estate planning attorney notes that an oil executive’s billion-dollar divorce could have turned out very differently if the couple had a premarital agreement and the executive had used asset protection trusts.
By John M. Goralka
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To Buck the Third-Generation Curse, Focus on the Family Story
The key is to motivate the next generations to contribute to the family business in a productive way. You can look to Lawrence Welk's family as a prime example.
By John M. Goralka
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A Good Estate Plan Requires Four Key Elements
An estate plan can be complex or simple, depending on your estate and your wishes, but every estate plan should accomplish the following basic goals.
By John M. Goralka
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Sophisticated Planning With Flexible Irrevocable Trusts
A flexible irrevocable trust can minimize taxes on capital gains, ordinary income, estate tax and property tax.
By John M. Goralka
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Tony Bennett's Daughters Share Thoughts on How to Prevent Inheritance Disputes
Other families, especially high-net-worth ones, can benefit from Johanna and Antonia Bennett's experience encountering estate disagreements.
By John M. Goralka
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You've Got a Trust: Now Who Should Be the Successor Trustee?
You've set up a trust to protect your assets and your beneficiaries, but you still must choose the right person to execute your wishes. Here's how to do that.
By John M. Goralka
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Three 'Yellowstone' Estate Planning Lessons
We can learn a lot from John Dutton's estate planning mistakes. Here are just a few that relate to families in general and family businesses in particular.
By John M. Goralka
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Two Consequential Tax Cases You May Not Have Heard About
The Supreme Court's decisions in these cases create uncertainty about challenging IRS regulations and guidance. Expect more litigation to follow.
By John M. Goralka
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Murdochs' Dispute Highlights Benefits of Trusts in Nevada
As Murdoch family members clash over who will control voting shares in the Fox media empire, the court proceedings, in Nevada, are private.
By John M. Goralka
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Strengthen Your Family's Legacy Protection With a Beneficiary Controlled Trust
Few trusts provide this level of multigenerational asset protection.
By John M. Goralka
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What We Can Learn from Tony Bennett's Estate Dispute
Bennett's daughters are suing their brother over the family trust, which could have been avoided had Bennett done some things differently.
By John M. Goralka
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How to Fix a Trust Dilemma to Prevent a Tax Bomb
A bypass, or AB, trust splits into two trusts when one spouse in a married couple dies, cutting the estate taxes for beneficiaries.
By John M. Goralka
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Does Your Estate Plan Protect Your Loved Ones From Themselves?
Can your children or other loved ones be trusted to have unfettered control over substantial assets and cash?
By John M. Goralka
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Six Custom Tax Planning Tips for High-Income Individuals and Families
Tax planning is a multifaceted process that requires a personalized approach, especially for high-income individuals and families.
By John M. Goralka
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How to Choose Your Trustee or Executor of Your Will
Above all, you should choose someone you trust, keeping in mind that acting as a trustee or executor can be a complex, thankless and sometimes long-term job.
By John M. Goralka
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Nine Lessons to Be Learned From the Hilton Family Trust Contest
Disclaimers, good communication, post-marital agreements and more could help avoid conflict in a family after the owners of a wealthy estate pass away.
By John M. Goralka
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Why Business Owners Should Review Their Buy-Sell Agreements
A recent tax case now before the U.S. Supreme Court hasn’t gone well for a small business, highlighting the need for businesses using a similar (and typical) succession planning arrangement to take a look at theirs.
By John M. Goralka
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How Did O.J. Simpson Avoid Paying the Brown and Goldman Families?
And now that he’s died, will the families of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman be able to collect on the 1997 civil judgment?
By John M. Goralka
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Corporate Transparency Act Ruled Unconstitutional: An Update
Alabama court sides with small-business group on whether Congress had power to enact CTA. Other concerns include privacy issues and high noncompliance penalties.
By John M. Goralka
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Cut Your Wealth Transfer Taxes With a Family Limited Partnership
This estate planning tool facilitates tax-efficient wealth transfer, asset protection, legacy preservation and more.
By John M. Goralka
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How to Use Your Estate Plan to Save Tax Now: A Timely Update
Consider an upstream basis trust and a general power of appointment for an older family member to reduce capital gains taxes on highly appreciated assets.
By John M. Goralka
