Law Commons^™

The Law Of High-Wealth Exceptionalism, Allison Anna Tait

Law Faculty Publications

No family is an island. But some families would like to be – at least when it comes to wealth preservation – and they depend on what this Article calls the law of high-wealth exceptionalism to facilitate their success. The law of high-wealth exceptionalism has been forged, over the years, from the twinned scripts of wealth management and family wealth law, both of which constitute high-wealth families as sovereign entities capable of self-regulation and deserving of exemption from the rules that govern ordinary-wealth families. Consequently, high-wealth families take advantage of complicated estate planning techniques and highly favorable wealth rules in …

The Secret Economy Of Charitable Giving, Allison Anna Tait

Law Faculty Publications

Charitable giving is big business. In 2009, the Internal Revenue Service reported close to 100,000 private foundations, almost double the number from fifteen years earlier. Some of these charitable trusts, like the Gates Foundation, are multi-billion dollar enterprises. Trust instruments and other governing documents set forth the terms that control these gifts. Because charitable trusts can exist in perpetuity, however, changing circumstances sometimes render the terms difficult to fulfill. Courts can apply cy pres, a doctrine that allows for the modification of gift restrictions, but in the past courts have tended to apply cy pres narrowly and privilege donor intent …

Publicity Rules For Public Trusts, Allison Anna Tait

Law Faculty Publications

That museums are public trusts is a truism in academic discourse and industry discussion. What various commentators mean when they speak about museums as public trusts, however, is less clear. This Article untangles and analyzes the various meanings of "'public trust" and how these meanings translate into regulatory systems. I propose that two predominant meanings-the public resource and trust law meanings-jointly constitute the definition of a public trust, and that each meaning has a consequent regulatory framework. These definitional and regulatory frameworks coexist without conflict in most contexts. In the context of deaccessioning,however, they collide.

Deaccessioning-the practice of a museum …

Understanding Duties And Conflicts Of Interest--A Guide For The Honorable Agent, Linda S. Whitton

Law Faculty Publications

This article examines the importance of understanding agent duties and conflicts of interest, both for drafting a power of attorney that meets a principal’s objectives and for providing guidance to the agent who will act under its authority. Professor Whitton suggests that current custom and practice with respect to powers of attorney often overlooks the need to adjust agent duties to accommodate the principal’s expectations, thus resulting in inadvertent conflicts between the duty to do what the principal expects and default duties of loyalty. The article offers practical guidelines for identifying and reconciling these conflicts, as well as best practices …

Surrogate Decision-Making Standards For Guardians: Theory And Reality, Linda S. Whitton, Lawrence A. Frolik

Law Faculty Publications

This Article examines the theoretical and practical implications of the substituted judgment and best interest standards for decision making by guardians. After providing an overview of the current decision-making standards in guardianship statutes, the Article synthesizes theoretical debates about what these standards mean and whether they provide an effective paradigm for surrogate decision makers. The authors then use new survey data to offer conclusions about the degree to which the substituted judgment and best interest standards are understood and meaningfully applied by guardians.

Wills, Trusts And Estates (Annual Survey Of Virginia Law, 2009-2010), J. Rodney Johnson

Law Faculty Publications

The 2010 Session of the General Assembly enacted wills, trusts, and estates legislation (i) adopting the Uniform Power of Attorney Act, (ii) passing emergency legislation for the construction of tax-oriented wills and trusts of persons who die during 2010 with documents drafted prior thereto, (iii) revising the small-estate statutes, and (iv) clarifying the burial power of attorney. In addition, there were six other enactments, and seven opinions from the Supreme Court of Virginia during the one-year period ending June 1, 2010 that present issues of interest in this area. This article reports on all of these legislative and judicial developments, …

Am I The Only Person Paying Taxes? The Largest Tax Loophole For The Rich - Exchange Funds, David J. Herzig

Law Faculty Publications

President Obama is faced with a national debt at over $11 trillion and needs to fund projects such as National Health Care with an ever-shrinking tax base. As the economy has slowed, so have tax revenues. It would then make sense for the government to reexamine tax carve-outs that only benefit the wealthy. In fact, President Obama is on record saying he wants to eliminate tax loopholes. After almost fifty years, the time is ripe to eliminate one of the few congressionally authorized tax loopholes—the $30 billion Exchange Funds.

This Article addresses the social equity arguments and the tax and …

Wills, Trusts And Estates (Annual Survey Of Virginia) Law, 2008-2009, J. Rodney Johnson

Law Faculty Publications

The 2009 Session of the General Assembly enacted wills, trusts, and estates legislation (1) preventing, in cases where persons die aft.er June 30, 2009, application of a regrettable 2008 Supreme Court of Virginia decision dealing with the rights of illegitimate heirs in intestate succession, and (2) amending Virginia's version of the Uniform Principal and Income Act to provide for taxpayer benefit and clarity in matters relating to total return unitrusts, the marital deduction, and the income taxation of trusts. In addition, there were several other enactments along with four opinions from the Supreme Court of Virginia during the one-year period …

Wills, Trusts And Estates (Annual Survey Of Virginia Law, 2006-2008), J. Rodney Johnson

Law Faculty Publications

The 2007 Session of the General Assembly enacted substantially more wills, trusts, and estates legislation than one typically expects, some of which was of a particularly significant nature, such as that (1) providing for the probate of wills not executed with the required statutory formalities; (2) preventing any future application of an unfortunate augmented estate decision of the Supreme Court of Virginia; (3) avoiding the impact of federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA") preemption in certain insurance revocation and slayer statute cases; and (4) mandating notice to the public when modification or termination of a charitable trust, …

Wills, Trusts And Estates (Annual Survey Of Virginia Law, 2005-2006), J. Rodney Johnson

Law Faculty Publications

The General Assembly enacted legislation dealing with wills, trusts, and estates that added or amended a number of sections of the Virginia Code in its 2006 Session. In addition, there were six opinions from the Supreme Court of Virginia during the period covered by this review that presented issues of interest to the general practitioner as well as the specialist in wills, trusts, and estates. This article reports on all of these legislative and judicial developments.

Wills, Trusts And Estates (Annual Survey Of Virginia Law, 2004-05), J. Rodney Johnson

Law Faculty Publications

The General Assembly enacted legislation dealing with wills, trusts, and estates that added or amended a number of sections of the Virginia Code in its 2005 Session. In addition, there were two opinions from the Supreme Court of Virginia that presented issues of interest to the general practitioner as well as to the specialist in wills, trusts, and estates during the period covered by this review. This article reports on all of these legislative and judicial developments.

Wills, Trusts And Estates (Annual Survey Of Virginia Law, 2003-2004), J. Rodney Johnson

Law Faculty Publications

The General Assembly enacted legislation dealing with wills, trusts, and estates that added or amended a number of sections of the Virginia Code in its 2004 Session. In addition, there were four opinions from the Supreme Court of Virginia that raised issues of interest to the general practitioner as well as the specialist in wills, trusts, and estates during the period covered by this review. This article reports on all of these legislative and judicial developments.

Separation, Custody, And Estate Planning Issues Relating To Companion Animals, Rebecca J. Huss

Law Faculty Publications

This article first discusses the domestication of companion animals, including the impact of anthropomorphism and neoteny on how animals are viewed in U.S. society. Second, it reviews the current legal status of animals. Third, it considers the voluntary and involuntary separation of companion animals from their human families. Fourth, it examines custody issues in the context of the placement of animals after the divorce of the human family members. Finally, it analyzes estate planning issues relating to companion animals.

Wills, Trusts And Estates (Annual Survey Of Virginia Law, 2002-2003), J. Rodney Johnson

Law Faculty Publications

The General Assembly of Virginia enacted legislation dealing with wills, trusts, and estates that added or amended a number of sections of the Virginia Code in its 2003 Session. In addition, there were three opinions and one order from the Supreme Court of Virginia, and one Virginia Circuit Court opinion, that raised issues of interest to the general practitioner as well as the specialist in wills, trusts, and estates during the period covered by this review. This article reports on all of these legislative and judicial developments.

Wills, Trusts And Estates (Annual Survey Of Virginia Law, 2001-2002), J. Rodney Johnson

Law Faculty Publications

The General Assembly enacted legislation dealing with wills, trusts, and estates that added or amended a number of sections of the Virginia Code in its 2002 Session. In addition, there were ten Supreme Court of Virginia opinions and two United States District Court opinions raising issues of interest to the general practitioner as well as the specialist in wills, trusts, and estates during the period covered by this review. This article reports on all of these legislative and judicial developments.

Wills, Trusts And Estates (Annual Survey Of Virginia Law, 2000-2001), J. Rodney Johnson

Law Faculty Publications

The General Assembly enacted legislation dealing with wills, trusts, and estates that added or amended a number of sections of the Virginia Code in its 2001 Session. In addition, one Supreme Court of Virginia opinion and three Virginia Circuit Court opinions raised issues of interest to the general practitioner as well as the specialist in wills, trusts, and estates during the period covered by this review. This article reports on all of these legislative and judicial developments.

Wills, Trusts And Estates (Annual Survey Of Virginia Law, 1999-2000), J. Rodney Johnson

Law Faculty Publications

In its 2000 Session, the General Assembly enacted legislation dealing with wills, trusts, and estates that added, amended, or repealed a number of sections of the Virginia Code. It also carried over one significant bill to the 2001 Session. In addition, there were nine Supreme Court of Virginia opinions, one United States District Court opinion, two Virginia Circuit Court opinions, and one Attorney General's opinion raising issues of interest to the general practitioner as well as the specialist in wills, trusts, and estates during the period covered by this review. This article reports on all of these legislative and judicial …

Wills, Trusts And Estates (Annual Survey Of Virginia Law, 1998-99), J. Rodney Johnson

Law Faculty Publications

In its 1999 Session, the General Assembly enacted legislation dealing with wills, trusts, and estates that added, amended, or repealed a number of sections of the Code of Virginia in its 1999 Session. In addition, there were eleven Supreme Court of Virginia opinions and one Bankruptcy Court opinion in the period covered by this review that involved issues of interest to the general practitioner as well as the specialist in wills, trusts, and estates. This article reports on all of these legislative and judicial developments.

Wills, Trusts And Estates (Annual Survey Of Virginia Law, 1995-97), J. Rodney Johnson

Law Faculty Publications

The General Assembly enacted legislation dealing with wills, trusts, and estates that added, amended, or repealed a number of sections of the Code of Virginia in the 1996 and 1997 sessions. In addition, there were eleven Supreme Court of Virginia opinions in the two-year period ending April 18, 1997, that involved issues of interest to the general practitioner as well as the specialist in wills, trusts, and estates. This article reports on all of these legislative and judicial developments.

The Absence Of Due Process In Fiduciary Accounting: A Constitutional Concem, J. Rodney Johnson

Law Faculty Publications

Once upon a time the content of a legal notice posted on the courthouse door was likely to become a matter of community knowledge within a reasonable period of time. Today, however, few persons would seriously suggest that courthouse posting satisfies minimum due process requirements for notice to parties of a proceeding affecting their property rights. Yet this is the only form of notice that Virginia law provides for beneficiaries when their fiduciaries make accountings before the commissioner of accounts. And, topping this, there is no provision for any form of notice to beneficiaries when the commissioner reports to the …

Wills, Trusts And Estates (Annual Survey Of Virginia Law, 1994-95), J. Rodney Johnson

Law Faculty Publications

The 1995 Session of the General Assembly enacted legislation dealing with wills, trusts, and estates that added, amended, or repealed a number of sections of the Code of Virginia. In addition to this legislation, there were five Supreme Court of Virginia opinions and one Fourth Circuit opinion in the year ending June 1, 1995 that involved issues of interest to both the general practitioner and the specialist in wills, trusts, and estates. This article analyzes each of these legislative and judicial developments.

The New Simultaneous Death Act: Welcome Changes For Donative Transfers, J. Rodney Johnson

Law Faculty Publications

Professor Johnson compares the 1991 Uniform Simultaneous Death Act with its 1941 predecessor and finds the newer legislation a vast improvement, particularly ind dealing with deaths occurring within short intervals.

Dispensing With Wills' Act Formalities For Substantively Valid Wills, J. Rodney Johnson

Law Faculty Publications

This article's thesis is that if it can be established by clear and convincing evidence (i) that a writing was intended to be a will, (ii) that the putative testator had the requisite capacity, and (iii) that the writing was not the product of fraud, duress or undue influence, then the writing ought to be admitted to probate as a will, even though it might fail to comply with some of the formalities contained in the statute of wills. Those who accept this thesis will agree that the present practice ofrequiring strict compliance with the formalities of the statute of …

Wills, Trusts And Estates (Annual Survey Of Virginia Law, 1990-91), J. Rodney Johnson

Law Faculty Publications

The 1991 session of the General Assembly enacted legislation dealing with wills, trusts, and estates that added, amended, or repealed a number of sections of the Code of Virginia ("Code"). In addition to this legislation, there were six cases from the Supreme Court of Virginia and one from the Virginia Court of Appeals, in the year ending June 1, 1991, which involve issues of interest to both the general practitioner and the specialist in wills, trusts, and estates. This article analyzes each of these legislative and judicial developments.

Wills, Trusts And Estates (Annual Survey Of Virginia Law, 1989-90), J. Rodney Johnson

Law Faculty Publications

The 1990 session of the General Assembly enacted legislation dealing with wills, trusts, and estates that added, amended, or repealed a number of sections of the Code of Virginia (the "Code"). In addition to this legislation, there were fifteen cases from the Supreme Court of Virginia, in the year ending June 1, 1990, which involved issues of interest to both the general practitioner and the specialist in wills, trusts, and estates. This article analyzes each of these legislative and judicial developments.

Wills, Trusts And Estates (Annual Survey Of Virginia Law, 1988-89), J. Rodney Johnson

Law Faculty Publications

The 1989 session of the General Assembly enacted legislation dealing with wills, trusts, and estates that added, amended, or repealed a number of sections of the Code of Virginia (the "Code"). In addition to this legislation, there were twelve cases from the Supreme Court of Virginia, one case from Virginia's intermediate court of appeals, and one federal case in the year ending June 1, 1989, that involved issues of interest to both the general practitioner and the specialist in wills, trusts, and estates. This article analyzes each of these legislative and judicial developments.

Wills, Trusts And Estates (Annual Survey Of Virginia Law, 1987-88), J. Rodney Johnson

Law Faculty Publications

The 1988 session of the General Assembly enacted legislation dealing with wills, trusts, and estates that added, amended, or repealed a number of sections of the Code of Virginia (the Code). In addition to this legislation, there were six cases from the Virginia Supreme Court, and one case from the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, in the year ending June 1, 1988, that involved issues of interest to both the general practitioner and the specialist in wills, trusts, and estates. This article analyzes each of these legislative and judicial developments.

Wills, Trusts And Estates (Annual Survey Of Virginia Law, 1986-87), J. Rodney Johnson

Law Faculty Publications

The 1987 session of the General Assembly enacted legislation dealing with wills, trusts and estates that amended fourteen sections and added three new sections to the Code of Virginia (the "Code"). In addition to this legislation, there were five cases from the Virginia Supreme Court during the past year that involved issues of interest to both the general practitioner and the specialist in wills, trusts, and estates. This article reviews all of these legislative and judicial developments. In order to facilitate the discussion of numerous Code sections, they will be ref erred to in the text by their section numbers …

Why You Need A Will - A Pamphlet That Explains The Need To A Layperson, J. Rodney Johnson

Law Faculty Publications

The education of clients and potential clients is an essential cornerstone to the practice of preventive law. A valuable tool that can be used in such education is printed material that explains, in approach and language that can be understood easily by laypersons, the how's and why's of the legal system.

The following material by Professor Johnson is an excellent example of the type of material a firm could prepare for distribution to its clients or potential clients. Obviously, this material is presented merely as an example, and each such pamphlet, of course, would have to be tailored to the …

Wills, Trusts And Estates (Annual Survey Of Virginia Law, 1985-86), J. Rodney Johnson

Law Faculty Publications

The 1986 session of the General Assembly passed eight bills dealing with wills, trusts, and estates. In addition to this legislation, there were four cases from the Virginia Supreme Court and one case from the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals during the past year that involved issues of interest to both the general practitioner and the specialist in wills, trusts, and estates. This article reviews all of these legislative and judicial developments. In order to facilitate the discussion of numerous Virginia Code sections they will be referred to in the text by their section numbers only. These section numbers will …