Mark E. Vannatta
Practice Areas
Industries
Education
- The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law, J.D., 1987, with Honors, Order of the Coif
- Bowling Green State University, B.S., cum laude
Bar & Court Admissions
Mark is a partner in the Vorys Columbus office and a member of the tax group. He practices in the areas of estate planning, estate and trust administration, litigation including estates and trusts and tax-exempt organizations, generation-skipping transfer tax savings, and probate law. He has considerable experience in drafting and formulating estate plans and is actively involved in all aspects of estate administration for individuals and families. Mark also has extensive experience advising tax-exempt organizations.
Mark is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and the Columbus Bar Association.
Mark has lectured on a variety of estate and trust topics, including charitable giving and the fundamentals of estate planning, for the Cincinnati Bar Association, the Columbus Tax Conference and The Ohio State University Medical Center.
Mark received his J.D. from The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law with honors where he was a member of the Order of the Coif. He received his B.S. cum laude from Bowling Green State University.
Mark is a former member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the Probate Law Journal of Ohio.
Professional and Community Activities
- The MACBEA Foundation, Director and Treasurer, 2010-present
- The Columbus Foundation, Legal Advisory Committee, 2000-present
- The Wexner Center Foundation, Secretary and ex-officio member of the Board of Trustees, 2005-present
- Ohio State University Sports Medicine Advisory Board Member, 2016-2019
- I Know I Can, Board Member, 2001-2018; President, 2010 and 2011
- Athletic Club of Columbus, Director, 2012-2018
Honors & Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America, Columbus Tax Law "Lawyer of the Year," 2018
- The Best Lawyers in America, Columbus Non-Profit/Charities "Lawyer of the Year," 2013, 2020
- The Best Lawyers in America, Trusts and Estates, 2006-2022
- The Best Lawyers in America, Non-profit/Charities Law, 2007-2022
- The Best Lawyers in America, Tax Law, 2007-2022
- Columbus CEO, Top Lawyers in Columbus, 2010-2021
- Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Review Rated
- Business First, The Best Lawyers in Central Ohio, Trusts and Estates, Non-Profit/Charities Law and Tax Law, 2008-2010
- Business First, Forty Under 40, 1998
- Columbus Junior Chamber of Commerce, Outstanding Young Citizens, 1994
- Fellow of the Columbus Bar Foundation since 2006
News
- 8/19/2021One hundred and sixteen lawyers from Vorys were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America® 2022 edition. In addition, 34 Vorys attorneys were named to the 2022 Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch” list.
- 8/20/2020One hundred and twelve lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America® 2021 edition. In addition, 26 Vorys attorneys were named to the inaugural Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch” list.
- 8/15/2019One hundred and thirteen lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2020.
- 8/15/2019Twelve Vorys attorneys have been named 2020 Lawyers of the Year by Best Lawyers. Each year, only a single lawyer in each specialty in each community is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year.”
- 8/15/2018One hundred and thirteen lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2019.
- 8/17/2017Twenty Vorys attorneys have been named 2018 Lawyers of the Year by Best Lawyers. Each year, only a single lawyer in each specialty in each community is honored as the “Lawyer of the Year.”
- 8/17/2017One hundred and eight lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2018.
- 3/28/2017This year, 54 Vorys attorneys were listed in the 2017 Columbus CEO “Top Lawyers” List.
- 8/15/2016One-hundred and eleven lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2017.
- 8/17/2015One-hundred and eighteen lawyers from Vorys were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2016.
- 8/18/2014One-hundred and ten lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2015.
- 8/14/2013One hundred and eleven lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2014.
- 9/12/2012Six Vorys partners have been named 2013 Lawyers of the Year by Best Lawyers. Each year, only a single lawyer in each specialty in each community is honored as the Lawyer of the Year.
- 8/23/2012One hundred and twenty-six lawyers from Vorys were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2013.
- 9/6/2011
- 8/9/2010
- 8/4/2009
- 10/29/2008
- 9/19/2007
Insights
- 5/4/2022
- 9/28/2021The U.S. House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee recently released a new tax proposal known as the “Build Back Better” Act. The proposal, if signed into law, would significantly change the current estate and gift tax exemption amount and the grantor trust rules.
- 8/30/2021Changes to the federal tax laws could be coming as soon as January 1…..2021.
- 4/26/2021For some clients, estate planning can be relatively straightforward.
- 10/27/2020The transfer tax system (estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer taxes) taxes transfers during lifetime and at death, which, in effect, exceed a set exemption amount.
- 6/2/2020During life, parents can generally broker and manage the use of the vacation home among their children and extended family with ease – or at least with a sense of clear control and geniality. But what about when mom and dad are gone?
- 5/6/2020Regardless of how higher education institutions decide to proceed with classes this fall, it is clear that this pandemic has caused many parents to consider certain legal aspects relating to their adult, college-bound children.
- 4/13/2020The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has announced that the due date for certain taxpayers filing Form 706, United States Estate (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return, and/or making payments of federal estate and generation skipping transfer tax is automatically extended until July 15, 2020.
- 4/3/2020Current economic conditions now provide a unique opportunity to avoid the payment of federal gift and estate taxes on asset transfers to children, grandchildren or other beneficiaries.
- 4/3/2020The IRS has announced that the due date for filing Form 709, United States Gift (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return, and making payments of federal gift and generation-skipping transfer tax is automatically postponed to July 15, 2020.
- 1/27/2020In late December, 2019, the “Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act,” or the “SECURE Act,” was enacted.
- 11/22/2019The Section 7520 rate is used in connection with the valuation of long-term or future property interests, such as annuities, life estates, remainder interests, and reversionary interests.
- 6/3/2019Whether you’re planning early for your child’s future or contemplating how your youngest grandchild’s education will be covered after you’re gone, there are several tax-favorable mechanisms for funding growing education expenses.
- 4/16/2019Generally, a trustee is required to provide certain information and accountings to the beneficiary of an irrevocable trust.
- 1/22/2019If you’ve recently updated your estate plan, there may be outstanding tasks that require your attention.
- 12/20/2018In the 2017 Tax Act, the “basic exclusion amount” was doubled from $5,000,000 to $10,000,000.
- 11/15/2018The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that was signed into law at the end of 2017 made sweeping changes to many laws affecting donors.
- Fall 2018Gone are the days of going on vacation to get away. As technology continues to advance, society has not only become increasingly dependent on the ability to remotely handle routine tasks, but also on the capability to deal with more complicated tasks such as reviewing and signing involved legal documents.
- 11/12/2018The significant increase in the federal estate/gift/GST tax exemption amount to $5,000,000 in 2011, which was made permanent in 2013, and then again increased to $11,180,000 in 2017, has substantially changed the focus of estate planning for many clients.
- 10/1/2018Gone are the days of going on vacation to get away. As technology continues to advance, society has not only become increasingly dependent on the ability to remotely handle routine tasks, but also on the capability to deal with more complicated tasks such as reviewing and signing involved legal documents.
- 6/18/2018
- 4/16/2018Family office investment vehicles often are organized as limited partnerships or LLCs treated as partnerships for federal income tax purposes.
- 1/29/2018If you have not looked at your estate plan recently, it’s time to do so.
- 1/18/2018Vorys is pleased to announce it has become an Advisor Member of Family Office Exchange (FOX).
- 12/28/2017On December 22, 2017, President Trump signed into law the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (referred to herein as TCJA or the Act). Although the most discussed provisions of the Act concern income tax changes, the new tax law also contains provisions that directly or indirectly affect estate planning.
- 11/20/2017The U.S. Tax Court recently determined that the IRS can re-examine the deceased spouse’s estate tax return that reported the unused exclusion, without regard to any statute of limitations.
- 11/9/2017The latest and growing trend for high net worth families involves the formation of a Family Office.
- 10/12/2017It is very satisfying to finally complete your estate plan. Looking over the binder containing copies of your Will, Trust(s), Power of Attorney and ancillary documents, you feel quite accomplished.
- 8/21/2017One of the many reasons that clients consider trusts in their estate planning is to protect assets from the creditors of their beneficiaries.
- 7/6/2017Last Fall, Ohio joined several other states in enacting legislation that permits high net worth families to form their own family trust company, commonly referred to as a private trust company (PTC).
- 6/2017Vorys attorneys Mark Vannatta and Suzanne Galyardt authored an article in the May/June 2017 edition of the Probate Law Journal of Ohio.
- 5/31/2017Recently, the Ohio Legislature passed House Bill 432, which became effective on April 6, 2017.
- 3/14/2017Last week, the Tenth District Court of Appeals upheld summary judgment in favor of an institutional trustee where trust beneficiaries sued the trustee—after executing a release of the trustee for actions taken in administration of the trust— for negligence and breach of fiduciary duty.
- 1/12/2017President-elect Donald Trump has promised major tax reform in 2017. With Republicans retaining majorities in both houses of Congress, there is now a real possibility that the federal estate tax and the generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax may be repealed.
- 12/19/2016Last week, Governor Kasich signed into law Senate Bill 232, which makes changes to Ohio’s statutes on intestacy, wills, and trusts.
- 12/6/2016Choosing a trustee is one of the most important and, often times, the most difficult decision for clients when creating a trust.
- 11/18/2016On November 1, 2016, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued Notice 2016-66. The Notice designates certain so-called “micro-captive” insurance company transactions as “transactions of interest” for purposes of Treas. Reg. Sec. 1.6011-4(b)(6), Code Sec. 6111, and Code Sec. 6112.
- Fall 2016
- 10/6/2016IRA charitable rollovers, which first became available in 2006, were made permanent by federal legislation in late 2015.
- 7/18/2016What happens to your Facebook and Pinterest accounts when you die? What about all those photos and documents stored on the Cloud and Google Drive? How about all of your electronic passwords to access your bank accounts, investment accounts and retirement accounts? What about your YouTube channel, iTunes and Bitcoin accounts?
- 5/16/2016Many parents across the country will soon be preparing to take their adult child to college.
- 3/21/2016It is important to regularly review asset titling and ensure such titling is consistent with one’s estate plan.
- 3/21/2016Mr. Smith, a widower, died survived by his three children. At the time of his death, Mr. Smith had the following assets: Residence (valued at $250,000), Checking/Savings Accounts (valued at $50,000) and Investment Account (valued at $600,000).
- 1/19/2016There are several ways in which a disgruntled beneficiary or disinherited heir can challenge a last will and testament or a trust.
- 11/18/2015There are three federal wealth transfer taxes: (1) the estate tax; (2) the gift tax; and (3) the generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax.
- 9/21/2015There are three federal wealth transfer taxes: (1) the estate tax; (2) the gift tax; and (3) the generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax.
- 9/1/2015Mark E. Vannatta, a partner in the Vorys Columbus office, authored an article entitled "The Ohio Bright Line Residency Test: It Is Not So Luminous Anymore" for the Sep/Oct 2015 edition of the Probate Law Journal of Ohio.
- 7/16/2015
- 5/18/2015Blending of families and the handling of the financial assets brought into a new marriage require estate planning solutions specially tailored to meet the unique circumstances inherent in such situations.
- 3/17/2015For decades, estate planners have been using trusts to help their clients save estate taxes.
- 1/26/2015As the new year is in full swing, you may or may not have ditched your resolutions by now.
- 1/21/2015We hope you and your family enjoyed a happy holiday season. We’re writing to introduce you to a new e-newsletter we will begin publishing next week.
- 3/18/2013Asset protection planners in Ohio will soon have one more arrow in their quivers. Effective March 27, 2013, Ohio law will permit the creation and funding of a domestic asset protection trust.
- 2/8/2013The new year has brought with it several permanent changes to the state and federal estate tax laws. These changes will have a major impact on estates and the terms of estate planning documents on a going forward basis.
- November 2011Mark E. Vannatta, a partner in the Vorys Columbus office, authored an article entitled “Creditor Claims at Death and Nonprobate Assets: Never the Two Shall Meet?” for the November 2011 edition of the Probate Law Journal of Ohio.
- 1/28/2011
- Jul/Aug 2010Mark E. Vannatta, a partner in the Vorys Columbus Office, authored an article entitled “Ohio Estate Planning Lawyers Beware: Courts in Other Jurisdictions Are Getting Tougher on Attorneys with Respect to Legal Malpractice Claims” for the July/August 2010 edition of the Probate Law Journal of Ohio.
- 1/14/2010The federal estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes were repealed effective Jan. 1, 2010.
- Jul/Aug 2009Mark E. Vannatta, a partner in the Vorys Columbus Office, authored an article entitled “A Call for Help to the Ohio General Assembly: The Ohio Estate Tax Apportionment Statue Needs Modification” for the July/August 2009 edition of the Probate Law Journal of Ohio.
- Jan/Feb 2008Mark E. Vannatta, a partner in the Vorys Columbus Office, authored an article entitled “S.B. 134: The Memorandum of Trust Has Become More Useful” for the January/February 2008 edition of the Probate Law Journal of Ohio.
- Jan/Feb 2007Mark E. Vannatta, a partner in the Vorys Columbus office, authored an article entitled "The Ohio Bright Line Residency Test: What It Is and What It Has Become" for the Jan/Feb 2007 edition of the Probate Law Journal of Ohio.