
Partner
Hartford
Email: acasella@murthalaw.com
Phone: 860-240-6048
Fax: 860-240-6150
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Bar & Court Admissions
- Massachusetts
- U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
- Connecticut
- U.S. Tax Court
Education
- New York University (LL.M. in Taxation, 2001)
- University of Connecticut School of Law (J.D., 1996)
- Trinity College (B.A. in Political Science, 1993)
- Suffield Academy (1989)
Alfred R. Casella
Alfred Casella is a partner in the Trusts and Estates Department.
Al's practice includes estate administration, probate litigation and sophisticated estate planning. His practice also includes serving as a fiduciary, whether as executor, trustee or conservator, as well as serving as counsel for conservatorships. He also advises Private Foundations on governance and compliance.
Presentations & Articles:
- "Implications of Tax Reform for Businesses, Gifting and Estates," Estate & Business Planning Council of Hartford, December 9, 2021, co-author and co-presenter
- "Planning in a Time of Uncertainty," Estate & Tax Planning Council of Eastern Connecticut, October 6, 2021
- When a Borrower Dies," Farm Credit East, February 7, 2019
- "Pitfalls of Probate," Edward Jones, East Longmeadow, MA, October 7, 2015
- "Legacy Planning," Fiduciary Investment Advisor, Newport, RI, co-author and co-presenter, June 18, 2015
- “Income Tax Considerations for Estate Planners,” Executive Committee of the Connecticut Bar Association, Estates & Probate Section, May 5, 2014
- "Postmortem Planning," A Practical Guide to Probate in Connecticut, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (1st. Edition 2013), chapter author (updated 2017)
- Dealing with a Decedent's Tax Fraud When Handling an Estate, Connecticut Bar Association, March 15, 2013, author and presenter
- Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts, Connecticut Bar Association, March 12, 2012, author and presenter
- Estate Planning Gone Awry: What Happens When Things Don't Work Out the Way We Planned?, American Bar Association, February Meeting, Tax Section, February 17, 2012, author and presenter
- So You Want to Run a Farm Stand - Entity Choices, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, February 13, 2012
- State Income Tax of Trusts Holding Business Interests, American Bar Association, 2011 Fall Meeting, Tax Section, October 21, 2011, author and panelist
- Business Succession Planning, Federal Tax Institute of New England, September 23, 2011, author and presenter
- The New Federal Estate and Gift Tax Portability Law and Related Connecticut Tax Matters, Connecticut Bar Association, Annual Meeting, June 23, 2011, author and presenter
- A Guide to Probate Accountings, Connecticut Bar Association, May 6, 2011, author and presenter
- Tilling the Soil of Opportunity, Entity Choices, Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, Inc., February 2011, author and speaker
- Tilling the Soil of Opportunity, Entity Choices, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, January 31, 2011, author and speaker
- Giving Away the Store: A Primer on Business Succession Planning and Post-Mortem Financing of Tax Liabilities of Estates Holding Closely Held Business Interests, American Bar Association, 2011 Midyear meeting, Tax Section, January 21, 2011, author and panelist
- The Probate Process From Start to Finish, NBI, December 6, 2010, author and presenter
- Challenging Estate Assets: Firearms, co-presenter for Connecticut Probate Asembly Judge and Clerk Seminar, January 12, 2010
- Panelist for Planned Giving Group of Connecticut, September 17, 2009
- Panelist for Connecticut Probate Assembly Judge and Clerk Seminar on Conservatorships, November 18, 2008
- 2009 contributor to LawForChangeTM Forms of Organization (Connecticut)
- The Probate Process from Start to Finish, NBI, December 7, 2009, author and presenter
- Simple End of Year Tax Planning Strategies, Connecticut Bar Association Estates & Probate Section, Notes & Commentary Special December 2008 Electronic Issue - No. 64, co-author
- Estate Administration Procedures: Why Each Step is Important, NBI, June 11, 2008, author and presenter
- Estate Administration Procedures: Why Each Step is Important, NBI, June 2007, author and presenter
- Estate Administration Procedures: Why Each Step is Important, NBI, June 8, 2006, author and presenter
- How to Protect Assets During Life & Avoid Estate Tax at Death in Connecticut, NBI, 2005, author and presenter
- Effective Planning for New Couples, NBI, 2004, author and presenter
- How to Protect Assets During Life and Avoid Estate Tax at Death in Connecticut, NBI, 2003, author and presenter
- Fellow, The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC)
- Connecticut Bar Association: Executive Committee, Estate & Probate Section (2005-present, also member of Steering Committee and CLE Committee
- Connecticut Bar Association: Executive Committee Tax Section (2011-2013)
- Hartford Estate and Business Planning Council (2005-Present): member CLE Committee (2019-2020)
- Central Connecticut Estate and Business Planning Council, Executive Committee (2009-2017)
- Greater Hartford Probate Forum, Chair (2008-2014)
- Connecticut Governor's Tax Panel (2015)
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Trusts and Estates Law, 2017- (Copyright 2015 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC)
- Listed in Connecticut Super Lawyers® in the area of Estate & Probate (Super Lawyers is a registered trademark of Key Professional Media, Inc.)
- Judicial Intern for the Honorable Robert Chatigny, of the U.S. District Court
- Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Board of Directors (2011-2019)
- Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Professional Advisory Committee (2012-2014)
- Connecticut Judiciary Public Service and Trust Commission - Pro Bono Committee (2011-Present)
- August 19, 2021 - 40 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition
- August 20, 2020 - 48 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition
- October 30, 2019 - 37 Murtha Cullina LLP Attorneys Receive Super Lawyers Recognition
- August 15, 2019 - 33 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition; Four Named “Lawyer of the Year”
- August 15, 2018 - 32 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition; Two Named Lawyer of the Year
- October 25, 2017 - Alfred R. Casella Elected Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
- October 18, 2017 - 38 Attorneys Receive Super Lawyers Recognition
- August 15, 2017 - 35 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition; Three Named “Lawyer of the Year”
- August 16, 2016 - Attorneys Receive "Best Lawyers" Recognition
- October 14, 2014 - Alfred R. Casella Appointed to State Tax Panel
- Murtha Cullina Names 2013 Partners
- November 29, 2017 - Alfred Casella Presenting at Joint CBA and Probate Assembly Seminar on "Probate Court Jurisdiction Over Revocable Trusts"
- March 6, 2017 - Alfred Casella presented on Grantor Trusts to the Estates and Probate Section of the Connecticut Bar
- A Guide to Probate Accountings
- The Probate Process from Start to Finish
Alfred Casella is a partner in the Trusts and Estates Department.
Al's practice includes estate administration, probate litigation and sophisticated estate planning. His practice also includes serving as a fiduciary, whether as executor, trustee or conservator, as well as serving as counsel for conservatorships. He also advises Private Foundations on governance and compliance.
Presentations & Articles:
- "Implications of Tax Reform for Businesses, Gifting and Estates," Estate & Business Planning Council of Hartford, December 9, 2021, co-author and co-presenter
- "Planning in a Time of Uncertainty," Estate & Tax Planning Council of Eastern Connecticut, October 6, 2021
- When a Borrower Dies," Farm Credit East, February 7, 2019
- "Pitfalls of Probate," Edward Jones, East Longmeadow, MA, October 7, 2015
- "Legacy Planning," Fiduciary Investment Advisor, Newport, RI, co-author and co-presenter, June 18, 2015
- “Income Tax Considerations for Estate Planners,” Executive Committee of the Connecticut Bar Association, Estates & Probate Section, May 5, 2014
- "Postmortem Planning," A Practical Guide to Probate in Connecticut, Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (1st. Edition 2013), chapter author (updated 2017)
- Dealing with a Decedent's Tax Fraud When Handling an Estate, Connecticut Bar Association, March 15, 2013, author and presenter
- Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts, Connecticut Bar Association, March 12, 2012, author and presenter
- Estate Planning Gone Awry: What Happens When Things Don't Work Out the Way We Planned?, American Bar Association, February Meeting, Tax Section, February 17, 2012, author and presenter
- So You Want to Run a Farm Stand - Entity Choices, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, February 13, 2012
- State Income Tax of Trusts Holding Business Interests, American Bar Association, 2011 Fall Meeting, Tax Section, October 21, 2011, author and panelist
- Business Succession Planning, Federal Tax Institute of New England, September 23, 2011, author and presenter
- The New Federal Estate and Gift Tax Portability Law and Related Connecticut Tax Matters, Connecticut Bar Association, Annual Meeting, June 23, 2011, author and presenter
- A Guide to Probate Accountings, Connecticut Bar Association, May 6, 2011, author and presenter
- Tilling the Soil of Opportunity, Entity Choices, Massachusetts Farm Bureau Federation, Inc., February 2011, author and speaker
- Tilling the Soil of Opportunity, Entity Choices, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, January 31, 2011, author and speaker
- Giving Away the Store: A Primer on Business Succession Planning and Post-Mortem Financing of Tax Liabilities of Estates Holding Closely Held Business Interests, American Bar Association, 2011 Midyear meeting, Tax Section, January 21, 2011, author and panelist
- The Probate Process From Start to Finish, NBI, December 6, 2010, author and presenter
- Challenging Estate Assets: Firearms, co-presenter for Connecticut Probate Asembly Judge and Clerk Seminar, January 12, 2010
- Panelist for Planned Giving Group of Connecticut, September 17, 2009
- Panelist for Connecticut Probate Assembly Judge and Clerk Seminar on Conservatorships, November 18, 2008
- 2009 contributor to LawForChangeTM Forms of Organization (Connecticut)
- The Probate Process from Start to Finish, NBI, December 7, 2009, author and presenter
- Simple End of Year Tax Planning Strategies, Connecticut Bar Association Estates & Probate Section, Notes & Commentary Special December 2008 Electronic Issue - No. 64, co-author
- Estate Administration Procedures: Why Each Step is Important, NBI, June 11, 2008, author and presenter
- Estate Administration Procedures: Why Each Step is Important, NBI, June 2007, author and presenter
- Estate Administration Procedures: Why Each Step is Important, NBI, June 8, 2006, author and presenter
- How to Protect Assets During Life & Avoid Estate Tax at Death in Connecticut, NBI, 2005, author and presenter
- Effective Planning for New Couples, NBI, 2004, author and presenter
- How to Protect Assets During Life and Avoid Estate Tax at Death in Connecticut, NBI, 2003, author and presenter
- Fellow, The American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC)
- Connecticut Bar Association: Executive Committee, Estate & Probate Section (2005-present, also member of Steering Committee and CLE Committee
- Connecticut Bar Association: Executive Committee Tax Section (2011-2013)
- Hartford Estate and Business Planning Council (2005-Present): member CLE Committee (2019-2020)
- Central Connecticut Estate and Business Planning Council, Executive Committee (2009-2017)
- Greater Hartford Probate Forum, Chair (2008-2014)
- Connecticut Governor's Tax Panel (2015)
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Trusts and Estates Law, 2017- (Copyright 2015 by Woodward/White, Inc., Aiken, SC)
- Listed in Connecticut Super Lawyers® in the area of Estate & Probate (Super Lawyers is a registered trademark of Key Professional Media, Inc.)
- Judicial Intern for the Honorable Robert Chatigny, of the U.S. District Court
- Hartford Symphony Orchestra, Board of Directors (2011-2019)
- Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Professional Advisory Committee (2012-2014)
- Connecticut Judiciary Public Service and Trust Commission - Pro Bono Committee (2011-Present)
- August 19, 2021 - 40 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition
- August 20, 2020 - 48 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition
- October 30, 2019 - 37 Murtha Cullina LLP Attorneys Receive Super Lawyers Recognition
- August 15, 2019 - 33 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition; Four Named “Lawyer of the Year”
- August 15, 2018 - 32 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition; Two Named Lawyer of the Year
- October 25, 2017 - Alfred R. Casella Elected Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
- October 18, 2017 - 38 Attorneys Receive Super Lawyers Recognition
- August 15, 2017 - 35 Murtha Cullina Attorneys Receive “Best Lawyers in America” Recognition; Three Named “Lawyer of the Year”
- August 16, 2016 - Attorneys Receive "Best Lawyers" Recognition
- October 14, 2014 - Alfred R. Casella Appointed to State Tax Panel
- Murtha Cullina Names 2013 Partners
- November 29, 2017 - Alfred Casella Presenting at Joint CBA and Probate Assembly Seminar on "Probate Court Jurisdiction Over Revocable Trusts"
- March 6, 2017 - Alfred Casella presented on Grantor Trusts to the Estates and Probate Section of the Connecticut Bar
- A Guide to Probate Accountings
- The Probate Process from Start to Finish
- Massachusetts
- U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts
- Connecticut
- U.S. Tax Court
- New York University (LL.M. in Taxation, 2001)
- University of Connecticut School of Law (J.D., 1996)
- Trinity College (B.A. in Political Science, 1993)
- Suffield Academy (1989)