Overview
John Elias has over thirty five years of experience helping clients navigate all aspects of estate planning, estate and trust administration, and succession planning for closely-held businesses. Mr. Elias' estate planning practice assists clients in minimizing tax burdens and maximizing wealth preservation. Mr. Elias' administration practice assists individuals and corporate fiduciaries with discharge duties owed to their beneficiaries to minimize tax liabilities imposed upon trusts, estates and their beneficiaries. Mr. Elias also assists clients in satisfying their philanthropic goals. He has extensive experience in general business and succession planning; asset protection; fiduciary and probate litigation, and federal and state tax audits and disputes.
Prior to joining Porzio, Mr. Elias was a founding member of Elias Sellitti LLC, a boutique law firm with its main office in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, and a satellite office in New York, New York. Prior to founding Elias Sellitti, he was a trust and estates partner in several regional and national law firms.
Recognition
- The Best Lawyers in America® - Trust and Estates (2009-2025)
- New Jersey Super Lawyers® (2004-2012 and 2018-2023)
Memberships
- Board of Governors, Fairmount Country Club, Chatham, NJ, 2012-2013
- New Jersey Bar Association, Member
- New York Bar Association, Member
Community Involvement
- Board of Trustees, Washington Association of New Jersey, 2017 - present; Treasurer, 2019-2020; Second Executive Vice President, 2020-present
- Board of Directors, Junior Achievement of New Jersey, Inc., 2008-2013
- Borough Council, Borough of Madison, NJ 2004-2009
- Board of Directors, 1997-2003; Endowment Committee, 2003-2006, Madison Area YMCA, Madison, NJ
- Board of Directors, Museum of Early Trades and Crafts, Madison, NJ, 1994-2001
- Board of Directors, 1996-2002, Chair, 2000-2002, Clergy Partnership on Domestic Violence, Madison, NJ
- Advisory Council, NJ All Stars, Newark, NJ 2004-2009
- Gift Planning Advisory Council of the Greater New York Chapter of the American Red Cross, New York, NY, 2009-2010
News
- 26 Porzio Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 Edition; 6 Listed as Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch®, 8/15/2024
- 27 Porzio Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®; Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch®, 8/17/2023
- Twenty Porzio Attorneys Recognized in 2023 New Jersey Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists, 5/11/2023
- 24 Porzio Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers ® in America, 2023 Edition, 8/18/2022
- Porzio Expands Wealth Preservation Team with the Addition of Elias Sellitti, 3/03/2022
Articles
- Corporate Transparency Act Filings Reinstated – BOI Reports Due By March 21, 2025, 2/20/2025
- Quarterly Tax Updates: Key Insights on IRS Developments, Crypto, Estate Planning & More, 2/11/2025
- Supreme Court Petition Filed to Reinstate Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) Enforcement, 1/08/2025
- Fifth Circuit Vacates Stay of Preliminary Injunction Against CTA Enforcement, 12/30/2024
- 2024 Year-End Tax Planning: It's Not Too Late, 12/19/2024
- Federal District Court Rules Corporate Transparency Act Unconstitutional, Only Enjoins Actions Against Plaintiffs: What's Next, Given You Weren't a Plaintiff?, 3/07/2024
- Quarterly Tax Updates: January 2024, 1/16/2024
- Corporate Transparency Act Becomes Operational, 1/16/2024
- 7 Things to Know About the Corporate Transparency Act, 12/28/2023
- Year-End Tax Tips: 5 Smart Strategies for 2023, 3 Important Changes for 2024, 12/14/2023
- 2023 Q3 Tax Updates, 7/20/2023
- Lessons from the Lynnette Harris and Leigh Ann Conley Cases, 7/20/2023
- Tax Short Shorts, 7/20/2023
- Net Unrealized Appreciation: Opportunities in Your Company's Retirement Plan, 7/20/2023
- More IRS Scrutiny of Hobby Losses, 7/20/2023
- Retirement Report, 7/20/2023
- Qualified Small Business Stock: More Smoke than Fire, 7/20/2023
- 2023 Q2 Tax Updates, 4/27/2023
- A Look At President Biden's Budget Tax Proposals, 4/27/2023
- Crypto Corner, 4/27/2023
- Golden Passports & Moving to Puerto Rico, 4/27/2023
- Tax Shorts, 4/27/2023
- 2023 Q1 Tax Updates, 1/24/2023
- IRS Delays $600 Reporting Threshold, 1/24/2023
- The Far Side, 1/24/2023
- The Silver Lining of Inflation, 1/24/2023
- Understanding the Once-A-Year Rollover Rule, 1/24/2023
- 2022 Year-End Tax Planning , 12/13/2022
- The Complexity of Charitable Contributions, 12/13/2022
- Converting Traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs, 12/13/2022
- Crypto Investments, 12/13/2022
- Delaying Income and Accelerating Expenses, 12/13/2022
- Looking Ahead: Tax Rates, Gift & Estate Exemptions and Tax Legislation, 12/13/2022
- Should You Harvest Losses?, 12/13/2022
- 2022 Year-End Tax Planning Resources, 12/13/2022
Speaking Engagements
-
"A FLING Only New Jersey Will Hate," Porzio's Wealth Preservation Symposium, 1/29/2025
-
"Trust & Estates," New Jersey Paralegal Convention, 10/18/2024