Posts Categorized: Program Recap

Program Date: Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Speaker: Stephanie A. Bruno of Nixon Peabody LLP

Moderator: Heidi Seely of Rackemann, Sawyer & Brewster, P.C.

Program Chairs: Heidi Seely of Rackemann, Sawyer & Brewster, P.C. and Nikki Marie Oliveira of Bass Doherty & Finks, P.C.

Materials: Click here for panelists’ handout.

Program Topic:  This program discussed the various types of non-probate assets as well as the estate and income tax consequences associated with common non-probate transfers, including potential issues that can arise when designating beneficiaries of retirement accounts.  Attendees learned how to effectively title assets and prepare beneficiary designation forms to avoid probate and how to analyze the estate and income tax impact of naming individuals, charities, and trusts as beneficiaries of non-probate assets, including retirement accounts.

Program Date:  Friday, May 19, 2017

Panelists:   John A. McBrine and Aimee Fukuchi Bryant, both of Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP

Program Chairs:  Sara Goldman Curley of Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP and David L. Silvian of Day Pitney LLP, co-Chairs of the Estate Planning Committee

Materials:  To view the program materials, click here.

Summary of Program Topic:  The panelists for this program discussed the basics of advising clients interested in making charitable gifts, including a discussion of considerations when making gifts of different types of assets, either during life or at death, evaluating the use of a private foundation or a donor advised fund.  The panelists also covered an overview of deferred giving vehicles, such as charitable remainder trusts and charitable gift annuities.

Program Date: Monday, November 28, 2016

Panelists: Susan A. Robb of First Republic Trust Company and Danielle R. Greene of Boston Private

Program Chairs: Heidi Seely of Rackemann, Sawyer & Brewster, P.C. and Nikki Marie Oliveira of Bass Doherty & Finks, P.C.

Materials: Click here for panelists’ handout.

Program Topic:  Panelists provided an introduction to the estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer taxes.  The program content included a review of the key components of each tax, how the taxes related to one another, and context of the relevancy of each tax for purposes of preparing an estate plan.

Program Date:  Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Panelists: Liza Connelly of Boston Private and Stacy K. Mullaney of Fiduciary Trust Company.

Program Chairs:  Liza Connelly of Boston Private and Stacy K. Mullaney of Fiduciary Trust Company, co-Chairs of the Trust Administration Committee

Materials:  To view the program materials, click here.

Summary of Program Topic:  This program covered the myriad of issues facing trustees who hold real estate in irrevocable trusts such as issues on trustee succession, insurance, expense allocation between trust and beneficiary-occupant and between trust income and principal, and the obligation to obtain “highest and best” price in a sale of real estate.  The panelists discussed the issues facing trustees when administering trust-owned real estate and how to avoid potential pitfalls in both the administration and the sale of real estate.

Program Date:  Friday, October 28, 2016

Panelists:  Jeffrey W. Roberts and Johanna L. Wise Sullivan of Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP

Program Chairs:  Sara Goldman Curley of Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP, and David L. Silvian of Day Pitney LLP, co-Chairs of the Estate Planning Committee

Materials:  To view the program materials, click here.

Summary of Program Topic:  This program provided an overview of key issues and planning points that attorneys should keep in mind when engaging in estate planning for a business owner.  It included an overview of different tax structures (C corporations, S corporations and LLCs), other structural issues (women owned businesses and business succession planning), and drafting considerations.  The panelists also discussed planning options, including the use of discounted valuations, freezing techniques and liquidity issues.

Program Date: Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Panelists:  Alison Irving Glover of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., Marshall D. Senterfitt of Goulston & Storrs, and Ryan P. McManus of Hemenway & Barnes LLP

Program Chairs: Marshall D. Senterfitt of Goulston & Storrs and Ryan P. McManus of Hemenway & Barnes LLP, co-Chairs of the Fiduciary Litigation Committee

Materials:  To view the program materials, click here.

Summary of Program Topic:  This program provided an in-depth review of estate planning strategies and best practices to be employed when a contest is possible or even likely.  The program focused on steps that can be taken during the planning stage to reduce the likelihood of litigation and to ensure that an estate plan, if challenged, will be upheld.  The panelists included a discussion of procedures that can be employed to try to achieve certainty and finality when litigation is anticipated.

Program Date: Friday, September 23, 2016

Panelist:  Suma V. Nair, Goulston & Storrs

Program Chairs: Sara Goldman Curley of Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP, and David L. Silvian of Day Pitney LLP, co-Chairs of the Estate Planning Committee

Materials:  To view the program materials, click here.

Summary of Program Topic:  This program provided an in-depth review of estate planning with retirement benefits as a follow up to last spring’s introductory program.  It included a discussion of the different options for a surviving spouse who receives retirement benefits, drafting tips, traps for the unwary, the practical issues that arise when it comes time to implement beneficiary designations, and ideas to fix issues that come up during estate administration.

Program Date: Friday, May 6, 2016

Panelist: Jeffrey W. Roberts, Esq. and Johanna L. Wise Sullivan, Esq., both of Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP

Program Chairs: Kerry L. Spindler, Goulston & Storrs PC  and Sara Goldman Curley, Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP, co-Chairs of the Estate Planning Committee.

Materials:  To view the program materials, click here.

Summary of Program Topic: The use of non-judicial settlement agreements under the Massachusetts Uniform Trust Code as a way to resolve ambiguities or other issues with irrevocable trusts without having to go to the Probate Court. The program reviewed the basics of non-judicial settlement agreements.