Posted tagged ‘portable exemption’

Basic Estate Planning Seminar With Extended Q&A Format

July 5, 2012

LocationMatrix Corporate Center, Sunset Vista Room, Fourth Floor, 39 Old Ridgebury Road, Danbury, CT

Directions:  Directions to Chipman MazzuccoDon’t rely on your GPS.  Please read and follow these directions.

Date:  July 26, 2012

Time:  5:30 to 7:30 pm (Doors open at 5:00)

Register here:  Seminar Registration.  Or, call 203-744-1929 for reservations.  For more contact information, go to the end of this post.  

No admission charge.  Our seminars are always strictly educational.

Description

We will cover the topics listed below.  Each listed Part corresponds to a Part in our Basic Estate Planning Video which you can see on YouTube here:  Basic Estate Planning Video.  If you would like to have the video on DVD, please let us know and we will send you one.

The Seminar will have four sections.  Each section will summarize topics covered in the video.  Q&A will follow each section.

To get the most out of the seminar, attendees should view the whole video before attending.  We understand that time may not permit that, however, and we are structuring the program to make certain it will be well worth your time even if you do not view the video.

Send Us Your Questions

If you think of a question before the seminar, let us know right away before you forget.  If the question is appropriate for a group educational program, we will try to answer it during the program.  Send your questions here: rsl@danburylaw.com (Richard S. Land) or here ksg@danburylaw.com (Kasey S. Galner).

 Seminar Topics

Part 1:  Introduction.  Wills and probate property vs. nonprobate property.

Part 2: Beneficiaries, mistakes with nonprobate property, trust basics, guardian appointments, life insurance beneficiary designations, and estate taxes.

Part 3:  Wills, the estate taxation of life insurance death benefits, tax issues and asset protection issues relating to Wills, and disclaimer Wills.

Part 4: Formula marital deduction Wills, exemption trusts, risk of disinheriting the surviving spouse as estate tax exemptions increase, the portable estate tax exemption, and asset protection bypass trusts.

Part 5:  Formula marital deduction Wills (and exemption trusts) vs. disclaimer Wills (and disclaimer trusts), and common estate planning mistakes.

Part 6:  Common estate planning mistakes continued, the duties of an Executor, the duties of the Trustee, the duties of a guardian, planning for post-death cash needs, and the generation skipping tax.

Part 7: Retirement plan accounts (IRAs, 401(k) plans, 403(b) accounts, etc.), estate taxation on retirement plan accounts, the risk of a circular tax on tax problem at death of account owner, life insurance and irrevocable life insurance trusts as a solution.

Part 8: Retirement plan accounts and related income tax issues, effects of beneficiary designations on deferral periods, spouse as beneficiary and tax deferred rollovers, required minimum distributions, and tax treatment of inherited IRAs, and the five year payout rule.

Part 9: Revocable living trusts, the living trust as a Will substitute, probate avoidance, planning for incapacity, and establishing a revocable living trust.

Part 10:  Comparison of revocable living trust plan with non-living-trust plan, treatment of lifetime issues, powers of attorney as an alternative to the revocable living trust, and what it means to avoid probate.

Part 11:  Comparison continued, avoiding ancillary probate in other states where real property is located, creditors’ claims and safe harbors for the Executor, and income and estate taxes.

Part 12:  Comparison (continued), accounting requirements, releases from liability, continuing trusts and continuing probate court jurisdiction, reasons for considering revocable living trusts, management during incapacity, and real property in other jurisdictions.

Part 13:  Reasons for considering a revocable living trust (continued), controversial estate plans, probate notice requirements, disruption of support for third parties, probate and related delays, simplifying estate settlement for survivors, nonreasons for considering revocable living trusts, the living trust as tax neutral, and probate court fees.

Part 14: Gift planning, gift and estate tax exemptions, exclusions for small gifts, gifts to education funds (529 plans), exclusions for qualified tuition and medical costs, gift tax marital deductions,  gifts to U.S. citizen spouse, and gifts to noncitizen spouse.

Part 15: Gifts of life insurance policies, incidents of ownership, irrevocable trusts as owner, three year rule relating to transfers of life insurance policies, and sophisticated gift techniques (qualified personal residence trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, valuations for gift tax purposes, gifts to charities and charitable trusts).

SEMINAR LOCATION AND TIME

The seminar will be on July 26, 2012, at the Matrix Corporate Center, Sunset Vista Room, Fourth Floor, 39 Old Ridgebury Road, Danbury, Connecticut from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The doors will open at 5:00. Refreshments will be served.

These seminars are always well attended and space is limited. If you wish to attend, or if others you know are interested in attending, to reserve space call us (203-744-1929) or send an e-mail message to me (Richard Land at rsl@danburylaw.com) or Kasey Galner (at ksg@danburylaw.com) or Lynn D’Ostilio (at lsd@danburylaw.com) containing your name, number attending, telephone number and e-mail address.

You may also register here: Seminar Registration.

 Posted on 7/4/2012 by Richard S. Land, Member, Chipman, Mazzucco, Land & Pennarola, LLC.

Notice: To comply with U.S. Treasury Department rules and regulations, we inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction, tax strategy or other activity.

We frequently post articles relating to estate planning, estate settlement and elder law issues to this blog. We also post notices about our client seminars here. When we do, we send out notices to clients and friends of the firm. If you would like to get our notices, please join our mailing list by clicking below.

Planning Question and Answer Sessions. Please Take This Survey!

May 15, 2012

When Do You Want an Estate Planning Q&A Session?  Please take this survey.

 May 15, 2012.

We recently published a Basic Estate Planning video on YouTube and DVD.  We hope that you will have a chance to see it if you have not already done so.

You can see the YouTube version here:  Basic Estate Planning Screencast on YouTube

We are scheduling group meetings so that interested parties can ask questions related to the subjects in the video.  There will be no charge or obligation. 

Location: Chipman Mazzucco, Attorneys, Matrix Corporate Center, 39 Old Ridgebury Road, Suite D-2, Danbury, Ct. o6810.

We ask you to click on the link below to complete this survey so that we know what will be convenient for you.  It will take only one minute.

Survey Link

 
Thank you for participating in the survey.  It will be a great help to us in our efforts to help you.
 
 
Posted on 5/15/2012 by Richard S. Land, Member, Chipman, Mazzucco, Land & Pennarola, LLC.

Notice: To comply with U.S. Treasury Department rules and regulations, we inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction, tax strategy or other activity.

We frequently post articles relating to estate planning, estate settlement and elder law issues to this blog. We also post notices about our client seminars here. When we do, we send out notices to clients and friends of the firm. If you would like to get our notices, please join our mailing list by clicking below.

     
  Join Email List  
     

Chipman Mazzucco | Promote Your Page Too

 

Basic Estate Planning Seminar

March 29, 2012

Our Basic Estate Planning Seminar is Now a Screencast

Background

March 28, 2012

We offer seminars to our clients, their advisors, and other friends of the firm, every year.  One of the most popular has been our Basic Estate Planning Seminar.  We offer it to you now as a screencast/podcast.  It is also available on DVD. If you would like the DVD, please contact us (via Chipman Mazzucco).

You can see all 15 parts.  Click on the red “Basic Estate Planning (15 Parts)” heading below and then click “Play All” under “Basic Estate Planning” at the top of the YouTube page.

Basic Estate Planning (15 Parts)

We describe each of the parts below with an individual link to each one. If the full screen button on the bottom right of the icon is not working, click on “For Full Screen Click Here.”

Part 1:  Introduction.  Wills and probate property vs. nonprobate property. For a Full Screen Click Here.

  

Part 2: Beneficiaries, mistakes with nonprobate property, trust basics, guardian appointments, life insurance beneficiary designations, and estate taxes. For Full Screen Click Here.

Part 3:  Wills, the estate taxation of life insurance death benefits, tax issues and asset protection issues relating to Wills, and disclaimer Wills. For Full Screen Click Here.

Part 4: Formula marital deduction Wills, exemption trusts, risk of disinheriting the surviving spouse as estate tax exemptions increase, the portable estate tax exemption, and asset protection bypass trusts.  For Full Screen Click Here.

Part 5:  Formula marital deduction Wills (and exemption trusts) vs. disclaimer Wills (and disclaimer trusts), and common estate planning mistakes. For Full Screen Click Here.

Part 6:  Common estate planning mistakes continued, the duties of an Executor, the duties of the Trustee, the duties of a guardian, planning for post-death cash needs, and the generation skipping tax. For Full Screen Click Here.

Part 7: Retirement plan accounts (IRAs, 401(k) plans, 403(b) accounts, etc.), estate taxation on retirement plan accounts, the risk of a circular tax on tax problem at death of account owner, life insurance and irrevocable life insurance trusts as a solution. For Full Screen Click Here.

Part 8: Retirement plan accounts and related income tax issues, effects of beneficiary designations on deferral periods, spouse as beneficiary and tax deferred rollovers, required minimum distributions, and tax treatment of inherited IRAs, and the five year payout rule. For Full Screen Click Here.

Part 9: Revocable living trusts, the living trust as a Will substitute, probate avoidance, planning for incapacity, and establishing a revocable living trust. For Full Screen Click Here.

Part 10:  Comparison of revocable living trust plan with non-living-trust plan, treatment of lifetime issues, powers of attorney as an alternative to the revocable living trust, and what it means to avoid probate. For Full Screen Click Here.

Part 11:  Comparison continued, avoiding ancillary probate in other states where real property is located, creditors’ claims and safe harbors for the Executor, and income and estate taxes. For Full Screen Click Here.

Part 12:  Comparison (continued), accounting requirements, releases from liability, continuing trusts and continuing probate court jurisdiction, reasons for considering revocable living trusts, management during incapacity, and real property in other jurisdictions. For Full Screen Click Here.

Part 13:  Reasons for considering a revocable living trust (continued), controversial estate plans, probate notice requirements, disruption of support for third parties, probate and related delays, simplifying estate settlement for survivors, nonreasons for considering revocable living trusts, the living trust as tax neutral, and probate court fees. For Full Screen Click Here.

Part 14: Gift planning, gift and estate tax exemptions, exclusions for small gifts, gifts to education funds (529 plans), exclusions for qualified tuition and medical costs, gift tax marital deductions,  gifts to U.S. citizen spouse, and gifts to noncitizen spouse. For Full Screen Click Here.

Part 15: Gifts of life insurance policies, incidents of ownership, irrevocable trusts as owner, three year rule relating to transfers of life insurance policies, and sophisticated gift techniques (qualified personal residence trusts, grantor retained annuity trusts, valuations for gift tax purposes, gifts to charities and charitable trusts). For Full Screen Click Here.

Posted on 3/29/2012 by Richard S. Land, Member, Chipman, Mazzucco, Land & Pennarola, LLC.

Notice: To comply with U.S. Treasury Department rules and regulations, we inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction, tax strategy or other activity.

We frequently post articles relating to estate planning, estate settlement and elder law issues to this blog. We also post notices about our client seminars here. When we do, we send out notices to clients and friends of the firm. If you would like to get our notices, please join our mailing list by clicking below.

     
  Join Email List  
     

Chipman Mazzucco | Promote Your Page Too

December 8, 2011, Seminar: Planning Your Whole Estate

November 12, 2011

Planning Your Whole Estate—Coordinating Life Insurance, Employee Benefits, and Other Nonprobate Property with the Rest of Your Estate Plan

LocationMatrix Corporate Center, Main Auditorium, First Level, Danbury, Connecticut, 39 Old Ridgebury Road, Danbury, CT

Directions:  Directions to Chipman MazzuccoDon’t rely on your GPS.  Please read and follow these directions.

Date: December 8, 2011
 
Time: 5:15 to 6:45 pm.

Call 203-744-1929 for reservations.  For more contact information, go to the end of this post.

The Last Will and Testament is usually the keystone of an estate plan. It contains the most important instructions for your survivors regarding the use of your assets after your death.

Unfortunately, many people are not aware that a Will usually will not control the disposition of nonprobate assets such as life insurance death benefits, retirement accounts such as 401(k) and IRA plans, annuities, jointly owned property and many other benefits provided under plans offered to employees as part of their employment package.

Unless you properly designate beneficiaries for nonprobate assets and coordinate them with the terms of your Will:

• Your estate plan may be largely ineffective
• Your heirs may pay taxes that could have been avoided
• Family conflict may ensue
• A young beneficiary may receive significant assets too soon 

In addition, unique income tax rules apply to many nonprobate assets. Without proper planning, income tax saving opportunities can be lost and tax traps may ensnare the unwary.

At the seminar, we will be discussing issues related to planning for nonprobate assets and how to coordinate the disposition of such assets with the terms of your Will (or Will substitute such as a revocable living trust).

Go here for a flyer about the seminar: Planning Your Whole Estate—Coordinating Life Insurance, Employee Benefits, and Other Nonprobate Property with the Rest of Your Estate Plan.

SEMINAR LOCATION AND TIME

The seminar will be on December 8, 2011, at the Matrix Corporate Center, Main Auditorium, First Level, 39 Old Ridgebury Road, Danbury, Connecticut from 5:15 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. The doors will open a little before 5:00. Refreshments will be served.

These seminars are always well attended and space is limited. If you wish to attend, or if others you know are interested in attending, to reserve space call us (203-744-1929) or send an e-mail message to me (Richard Land at rsl@danburylaw.com) or Kasey Galner (at ksg@danburylaw.com) or Lynn D’Ostilio (at lsd@danburylaw.com) containing your name, number attending, telephone number and e-mail address.

Posted on 11/12/2011 by Richard S. Land, Member, Chipman, Mazzucco, Land & Pennarola, LLC.

We frequently post articles relating to estate planning, estate settlement and elder law issues to this blog. We also post notices about our client seminars here. When we do, we send out notices to clients and friends of the firm. If you would like to get our notices, please join our mailing list by clicking below.

Join Email List

Chipman Mazzucco | Promote Your Page Too

Congress Converted Your Federal Estate Tax “Exemption” to an Asset You Can Transfer.

July 12, 2011

As a result of legislation enacted last December, each of us has a federal estate tax “exemption” of $5,000,000. The first reaction of many might be, “So what? I have nothing to tax anyway. This means nothing to me.”

If you are married at the time of your death, however, your $5,000,000 estate tax “exemption” can be transferred to your surviving spouse. As a result, your surviving spouse could have an “exemption” of as much as $10,000,000 (your spouse’s “exemption” plus your “exemption”). Potentially, your “exemption” could save a surviving spouse from $1,500,000 to $2,500,000 in federal estate taxes.

To transfer your “exemption” to your surviving spouse, your Executor must file a federal estate tax return by its due date (nine months after your death unless an extension is requested). If your Executor fails to file the return and make the election, the opportunity to transfer the exemption to your surviving spouse is lost. Problem:  As of July 25, 2011, the IRS has not issued an estate tax return form that includes the election.  Executors of decedents who died early in 2011 should consider filing, before the due date for the return, a request for an extension of time to file the return to preserve the ability to make the election.

Not only will the new portable exemption be a new and useful estate planning tool, the “exemption” probably will be considered when negotiating many prenuptial agreements. It is not a stretch to imagine the lawyer of the wealthy groom-to-be asking his client’s betrothed to make certain her Executor will make the “exemption” election after her death.

It is also not too much of a stretch to think that some wealthy bachelors and bachelorettes may seek out singles with unused “exemptions,” short life expectancies, and no assets, as ideal marriage partners.

Look at it from this slightly different perspective. Imagine that your spouse passes away this year with no assets. You (the surviving spouse) expect to receive a large inheritance in the future when your parents pass away. The inheritance from your parents will push the size of your estate well above $5,000,000 (the size of your exemption).

In such a case, the exemption of your deceased spouse would be very important in shielding your estate (augmented by the inheritance you receive from your parents) from estate taxes at your death; and, as the Executor of your spouse’s estate, you should file a federal estate tax return within nine months after your spouse’s death to claim your spouse’s unused exemption even though your spouse’s estate has no value at all.

The current federal estate tax rules, including the rules relating to the portable exemption, are temporary and are scheduled to expire on January 1, 2013. Estate planners expect Congress to act to prevent expiration of the current rules or to enact different rules. In the meantime, while waiting for Congress to give us a permanent set of rules, it makes sense to take steps to preserve the portable “exemption” for the surviving spouse by filing estate tax returns for the estate of the deceased spouse even when the estate has no value.

Posted on 7/9/2011 by Richard S. Land, Member,  Chipman, Mazzucco, Land & Pennarola, LLC.

We frequently post articles relating to estate planning, estate settlement and elder law issues to this blog. We also post notices about our client seminars here. When we do, we send out notices to clients and friends of the firm. If you would like to get our notices, please join our mailing list by clicking below.

     
  Join Email List  
     

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Notice: To comply with U.S. Treasury Department rules and regulations, we inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction, tax strategy or other activity.

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