PAL Speaker Series: Claudia Hess: Art Estate Planning - What do you need to know and do!
Free for PAL members
$20 for non-members.
Estate planning for art is too important to leave to chance. In this engaging talk, certified fine art appraiser and CEO of Hess Art Advisory, Claudia Worthington Hess, AAA, MBA, demystifies what happens to artwork when the artist or collector is no longer here. Drawing on over 40 years of experience with collectors, museums, and estates, she offers clear, practical guidance for artists and non-artists alike.
Claudia explains the pitfalls of trading art, how to talk with your family about your art estate, and which professionals you need on your team—appraiser, estate attorney, and tax expert. She breaks down the difference between replacement, fair market, and comparable market values so you can “get real” about what your art is actually worth.
Attendees will explore options for selling, placing works in trusts or LLCs, and donating art, including what really happens before, during, and after a museum gift—ownership transfer, deaccessioning, and tax forms. You will leave with a roadmap to start planning now, protect your legacy, and ensure your artwork continues to have impact for the people and institutions you care about most.
Biography:
Claudia Worthington Hess, MBA, AAA, is CEO of Hess Art Advisory and a certified fine art appraiser based in the San Francisco Bay Area. She brings over 40 years of experience as an art historian, curator, educator, entrepreneur, gallery owner, and art consultant. A Certified Member of the Appraisers Association of America, she prepares USPAP-compliant appraisal reports and advises private collectors, corporations, and institutions on building collections, collection management, and dispersal. Claudia holds an international MBA, studied at the Sorbonne, and completed NYU’s Appraisal Studies program, and is a published author and speaker on contemporary art. Claudia holds an international MBA, studied at the Sorbonne, and completed NYU’s Appraisal Studies program, and is a published author and speaker on contemporary art.