Robert Lynn

Robert E. Lynn, JD, CPA, a partner in the law firm of Bartley & Lynn, LLP, had been a “tax geek” in public accounting since the mid-eighties, but increasing involvement with trusts and estate administration matters prompted him to change course. Admitted to the Minnesota Bar in May of 2014, he thereafter teamed up with Charles Bartley, another Hamline Law alum and CPA, primarily serving closely held businesses and their principals. Bob’s articles have appeared in Hearsay (MSBA), The Footnote (MNCPA), Tax Notes, Practical Tax Strategies, and The Tax Adviser. His own estate plan includes a testamentary letter with just one instruction for his funeral – don’t economize on the food and drink.

Please: get the correct acknowledgement if you want to deduct that property contribution

Robert Lynn
June 30, 2016

“Close” counts with horseshoes and hand grenades. Unfortunately, it doesn’t count for entitlement to deduct a charitable contribution, once the amount claimed exceeds a trigger point. When that happens, the taxpayer’s own records – no matter how convincing – won’t suffice. There has to be an acknowledgement from the charity itself that follows the law […]

Using a Testamentary Letter to Explain Your Estate Plan

Robert Lynn
January 20, 2016

Your estate plan likely includes formal documents (a will, perhaps one or more trusts) that direct transfers of your property when you die. But those documents won’t identify each and every item to be transferred. Eventually, whoever settles your affairs will find a sentence in one of your documents such as “I leave the rest […]