What We Do

Effective tax planning is not about reacting to a return that's already due. It's about building a forward-looking strategy that accounts for how you earn income, where your assets are held, how your business is structured, and what your long-term objectives look like. At Chilingirian Law Group, tax planning begins with a comprehensive analysis of your current position and ends with a concrete, actionable roadmap.

For domestic clients, this may involve selecting the optimal entity structure for a new business, restructuring an existing entity to capture available deductions, or coordinating tax-efficient strategies for real estate acquisitions. For international clients — including foreign nationals considering a move to the United States — pre-immigration tax planning can mean the difference between preserving wealth and triggering unnecessary tax obligations upon arrival.

Neal Chilingirian's Master of Business Taxation degree from USC, combined with over 27 years of focused practice and his Certified Specialist in Taxation designation, allows him to identify planning opportunities that generalist attorneys frequently miss. Whether you're a U.S. citizen with global investments, a foreign national acquiring U.S. real estate, or a business owner evaluating a sale or restructure, you'll receive counsel that is precise, strategic, and grounded in deep technical knowledge.

A well-constructed estate plan does more than distribute assets after death. It protects your family during incapacity, minimizes estate and gift tax exposure, ensures the orderly transfer of business interests, and provides for loved ones in the manner you intend. For clients with assets, family members, or interests in multiple countries, estate planning takes on an additional layer of complexity that requires specialized knowledge.

Chilingirian Law Group prepares estate plans that address both domestic and international considerations. For U.S.-based clients, the firm drafts revocable and irrevocable trusts, wills, powers of attorney, advance healthcare directives, and related instruments tailored to each client's family and financial circumstances. For multinational families — including those with assets or beneficiaries in other countries — the firm coordinates cross-border estate strategies, working with affiliated counsel in Turkey and other foreign jurisdictions to ensure that the plan functions effectively across legal systems.

Neal's tax specialization is particularly valuable in the estate planning context. Estate and gift tax exposure is often the single largest financial risk in a high-net-worth estate plan. By integrating tax planning into every estate planning engagement, the firm helps clients preserve more of their wealth for the next generation.

When a loved one passes away or becomes incapacitated, the legal and administrative obligations can be overwhelming. Executors and trustees face strict fiduciary duties, court filing deadlines, tax return requirements, and the responsibility of distributing assets according to the decedent's wishes — all while navigating grief and family dynamics.

Chilingirian Law Group provides steady, knowledgeable guidance through every phase of probate and trust administration. The firm assists personal representatives, trustees, and beneficiaries with court filings, creditor notifications, asset inventories, accountings, and the ultimate distribution of estate assets. For estates with tax obligations, Neal's Certified Specialist designation ensures that income tax, estate tax, and fiduciary tax returns are handled with precision and care.

The firm also advises trustees on their ongoing fiduciary obligations, including investment standards, distribution requirements, and the preparation of trust accountings. For beneficiaries with concerns about a trustee's conduct or an estate's administration, the firm provides counsel on available legal remedies.

Receiving a notice from the IRS or a state tax agency can be one of the most stressful experiences an individual or business owner faces. The consequences of an unresolved tax dispute can include significant financial penalties, liens, levies, and in the most serious cases, criminal exposure. Having an experienced tax attorney involved early in the process is critical to protecting your rights and achieving the best possible outcome.

Chilingirian Law Group represents individuals and businesses in all phases of tax controversy — from the initial audit or examination through administrative appeals and, when necessary, litigation. Neal's background as a Certified Specialist in Taxation means he understands not only the legal arguments available to taxpayers, but the procedural strategies that can be leveraged at every stage of a dispute.

The firm handles matters involving the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB), the Employment Development Department (EDD), the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA), and other state and federal tax agencies. Whether the issue involves an income tax audit, payroll tax assessment, penalty abatement request, or an offer in compromise, clients receive direct, hands-on representation from an attorney who has spent his career in this arena.

The United States taxes its citizens and residents on worldwide income, regardless of where that income is earned or where the taxpayer resides. For U.S. citizens living abroad, foreign nationals with U.S. ties, and businesses operating across borders, this creates a web of reporting obligations that carries severe penalties for non-compliance — even when the failure to report was unintentional.

Chilingirian Law Group advises clients on the full spectrum of international tax compliance requirements. This includes the reporting of foreign bank accounts under the Bank Secrecy Act (FBAR/FinCEN 114), compliance with the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), and the preparation of complex international information returns including Forms 3520, 5471, 8865, and 8938. For taxpayers who have fallen behind on these obligations, the firm guides clients through available remediation programs, including the IRS Streamlined Filing Compliance Procedures for non-willful taxpayers and voluntary disclosure options.

For clients considering expatriation or renouncing U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, the firm provides detailed exit tax planning and preparation of Form 8854, helping clients understand and manage their obligations as covered or non-covered expatriates. The firm also advises on cross-border transaction structuring, foreign trust reporting, and the application of bilateral tax treaties to minimize double taxation and ensure full compliance.

Every business decision carries legal and tax implications. Choosing the wrong entity structure can cost a business owner thousands in unnecessary taxes. A poorly drafted operating agreement can create disputes between partners. An overlooked clause in a commercial lease can expose a company to unexpected liability. At Chilingirian Law Group, business counsel is delivered with the tax perspective that most general practice attorneys simply cannot provide.

Neal Chilingirian advises business owners from the earliest stages of formation through growth, transactions, and eventual exit or succession. His dual expertise in business law and tax law means that every recommendation accounts for both the legal and tax consequences of a given decision — an integrated approach that prevents costly surprises down the road.

The firm serves entrepreneurs, small and mid-size business owners, real estate investors, and companies engaged in domestic and international commerce. Whether you need to form a new entity, negotiate a commercial lease, draft or review a contract, structure a buy-sell agreement, or navigate a merger or acquisition, you'll work directly with an attorney who understands both the legal framework and the financial bottom line.