Estate Planning Basic Skills
April 2010
Estate Planning Basic Skills
Program Highlights
- Information Gathering and the Initial Client Interview
- Introduction to Transfer Taxes
- The Planning Process; The Drafting Process
- Execution of Documents and Follow-up Issues
- Planning for Disability
- Planning for Single Clients and Smaller Estates
- Introduction to Ethics in Estate Planning
- Planning for Married Clients and Larger Estates
- Introduction to the Marital Deduction; Planning to Minimize Estate Taxes
- Uses of Life Insurance in Estate Planning
- Revocable Living Trusts
- Traps to Avoid: The 10 Most Common Problems and Pitfalls as Seen Through the Eyes of “The Bench,” Including Malpractice
- Presentation and Discussion of Hypothetical Fact Patterns (four sessions)
Program Description
The bi-annual Estate Planning Basic Skills program returns for 2010! If you are an attorney who wants to develop an estate planning practice, a legal assistant working in the estate planning area, or would just like to improve your skills in this important area of the law, you don't want to miss this valuable program!
As always, experienced estate planning attorneys will show you the best tools to employ in common situations you will face. Some of the timely topics to be covered include ethical concerns, transfer tax issues, planning for smaller estates, estate planning with life insurance, and the planning and drafting process.
This year's program has been expanded to two full days of instruction. The program now includes four valuable new sessions in which the members of the faculty will apply the concepts you have just learned to typical client fact patterns. You will also enjoy a judicial panel discussion of the most important problems and pitfalls estate planning attorneys face.
You are encouraged to bring your Colorado Estate Planning Forms (Orange Book) as it will be a valuable tool during the program. The Orange Book will also be available for sale the day of the program. Attorneys, don't forget to bring your paralegal or legal assistant! Don't delay…
Register today!
Agenda - Thursday, April 15, 2010
8:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Registration and Continental Breakfast
9:00 - 9:30 a.m.
Information Gathering and the Initial Client Interview
- Using questionnaires to obtain essential personal and financial Information
- Educating your client regarding the estate planning process and proposed instruments
- Exploring sensitive matters such as blended families and problem children
- Counseling clients who need what they don't want or want what they don't need
Presented by Frank T. Hill, Esq. and Constance Beck Wood, Esq.
9:30 - 10:25 a.m.
Introduction to Transfer Taxes
- Elements of the gross estate
- Transfer tax savings through wise use of deductions and credits
- Overview of gift taxation
- Selected income and generation-skipping tax issues
Presented by Mark D. Masters, Esq.
10:25 - 10:35 a.m.
Networking Break
10:35 - 11:35 a.m.
The Planning Process; The Drafting Process
- Designing a practical plan to carry out the client's wishes, while minimizing taxes and administrative costs
- Nuts and Bolts I: Statutory requirements and elements of a good, dispositive document
- Nuts and Bolts II: Disposing provisions, selecting fiduciaries, etc.
- Coordinating will provisions with other estate planning documents and nonprobate assets
- Common drafting problems and errors
Presented by Frank T. Hill, Esq. and Constance Beck Wood, Esq.
11:35 - 12:05 p.m.
Presentation and Discussion of Hypothetical Fact Patterns (I)
Presented by the Faculty
Panel Moderator: Mark D. Masters, Esq.
12:05 - 1:20 p.m.
Lunch (On Your Own)
1:20 - 2:00 p.m.
Execution of Documents and Follow-up Issues
- Ensuring proper execution
- Asset balancing
- Changing beneficiary designations and retitling assets
Presented by Frank T. Hill, Esq. and Constance Beck Wood, Esq.
2:00 - 2:45 p.m.
Planning for Disability
- Advance Medical Directives: Medical Power of Attorney, Living Will, CPR Directive
- Proxy decision maker
- Financial Powers of Attorney
- Parental delegation of guardianship
Presented by M. Carl Glatstein, Esq.
2:45 - 2:55p.m.
Networking Break
2:55 - 3:50 p.m.
Revocable Living Trusts
- Using a funded revocable trust as the dispositive document
- Using an unfunded standby trust
- The need for a pour-over will
Presented by Julia Griffith McVey, Esq.
3:50 - 4:20 p.m.
Presentation and Discussion of Hypothetical Fact Patterns (II)
Presented by the Faculty
Panel Moderator: Mark D. Masters, Esq.
4:20 PM
Adjourn
Agenda - Friday, April 16, 2010 *Please note early start time
8:00 - 8:30 a.m.
Continental Breakfast
8:30 - 9:20 a.m.
Introduction to Ethics in Estate Planning
- Representing multiple clients: Navigating through confidentiality and potential conflicts of interest
- Representing clients with disabilities or questionable competency
- Who is my client? Identifying troublesome situations
- Engagement/disengagement letters
Presented by Paul J. Willumstad, Esq.
9:20 - 10:30 a.m.
Planning for Married Clients and Larger Estates
- Yours, mine and ours: Second marriages and blended families
- Using contingent trusts for children or grandchildren
- Planning for problem adult children
- Non-tax considerations when planning the larger estate, such as distributions of business interests, etc.
- Which tax apportionment clause is appropriate
- Married with children
Presented by Laurie A. Hunter, Esq.
10:30 - 10:40 a.m.
Networking Break
10:40 - 11:40 a.m.
Introduction to the Marital Deduction; Planning to Minimize Estate Taxes
- Basic formulas of marital deduction planning for taxable estates
- Disclaimer trust planning
- Combined marital trust/bypass trust planning: The A and B trusts
- Using QTIP provisions
- Planning for an uncertain tax future
Presented by Thomas L. Stover, Esq.
11:40 - 12:10 p.m.
Presentation and Discussion of Hypothetical Fact Patterns (III)
Presented by the Faculty
Panel Moderator: Mark D. Masters, Esq.
12:10 - 1:25 p.m.
Lunch (On Your Own)
1:25 - 2:20 p.m.
Uses of Life Insurance in Estate Planning
- Types of life insurance policies
- Life insurance to provide estate liquidity and pay debts
- Paying estate taxes cheaply - an introduction to the irrevocable life insurance trust
Presented by Kevin D. Millard, Esq.
2:20 - 3:00 p.m.
Planning for Single Clients and Smaller Estates
- Widows and widowers
- Divorced clients
- Unmarried couples
- Using contingent trusts for children or grandchildren
- Considerations when planning the smaller estate
- Elderly clients
Presented by Patrick M. Plank, Esq.
3:00 - 3:10 p.m.
Networking Break
3:10 - 3:40 p.m.
Presentation and Discussion of Hypothetical Fact Patterns (IV)
Presented by the Faculty
Panel Moderator: Mark D. Masters, Esq.
3:40 - 4:30 p.m.
Traps to Avoid: The 10 Most Common Problems and Pitfalls as Seen Through the Eyes of “The Bench,” Including Malpractice
Presented by Judge Rebecca S. Bromley (Ret.), Magistrate E. David Griffith (Ret.), Magistrate Barbara Hughes, and Judge John P. Leopold (Ret.)
4:30 p.m.
Adjourn
Faculty
Mark D. Masters, Program Chair
Horen, Lockwood & Masters, LLP
Englewood, CO
Rebecca S. Bromley
Senior District Court Judge
4th Judicial District
Colorado Springs, CO
M. Carl Glatstein, Esq.
Glatstein & O'Brien, LLP
Denver, CO
Honorable E. David Griffith
Colorado State Court Magistrate (Ret.)
Colorado Springs, CO
Frank T. Hill, Esq.
The Law Office of Frank T. Hill
Lakewood, CO
Honorable Barbara Hughes, Magistrate
4th Judicial District
Colorado Springs, CO
Laurie A. Hunter, Esq.
Wade Ash Woods Hill & Farley, PC
Denver, CO
Honorable John P. Leopold
Colorado District Court Judge (Ret.)
Littleton, CO
Julia Griffith McVey, Esq.
The Law Office of Julia Griffith McVey, PC
Lakewood, CO
Kevin D. Millard, Esq.
Chorney & Millard, LLP
Denver, CO
Patrick M. Plank, Esq.
Patrick M. Plank, LLC
Littleton, CO
Thomas L. Stover, Esq.
Stover & Spitz, LLC
Longmont, CO
Paul J. Willumstad, Esq.
Law Offices of Paul J. Willumstad
Pueblo, CO
Constance Beck Wood, Esq.
Constance Beck Wood, LLC
Denver, CO
Video Replays: May 5 and 6, 2010
Denver: CLE Classroom, 1900 Grant Street, Suite 300
Grand Junction: 1250 East Sherwood Drive
Colorado Springs: 421 South Tejon Street, Suite 100
Location Information
CLECI Large Classroom
1900 Grant Street, Suite 300
Denver, CO 80203
Get directions
1900 Grant Street, Suite 300
Denver, CO 80203
Registration Fees
| Non Member | $379.00 |
| CBA | $339.00 |
| TRUST | $299.00 |
| New Lawyer | $259.00 |
| CBA | $259.00 |
- General Credits: 14.00
- Ethics Credits: 1.00
- EDI Credits:
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