Estates and Trusts Commons^™

Family Values: An Evaluation Of Internal Revenue Code Sections 2703 And 2704(B), David Berke

ACTEC Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Virtual Currency Estate Planning, Bit By Bit, Abigail J. Farmer, Cory Elizabeth Tyszka

ACTEC Law Journal

This article addresses the issues that virtual currencies, specifically bitcoins, pose for the mindful estate planner. First, it explains what bitcoins are, where they come from, and what their legal status is. Next, it identifies special problems that bitcoins pose in estate planning. Finally, it concludes by offering solutions to these problems, including recommended transfer mechanisms and gifting strategies.

Predispute Arbitration Agreements Between Trustees And Financial Services Institutions: Are Beneficiaries Bound?, Mary F. Radford

ACTEC Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Beyond Donor Intent: Leveraging Cy Pres To Remedy Unintended Burdens Caused By Charitable Gifts, Katie Magallanes

ACTEC Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Saving For Education: Creating Educational Dynasty Trusts Using 529 Plans, Susan T. Bart

ACTEC Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Means To An End: Electively Forcing Vesting To Suit Tax Rules Against Perpetuities, James P. Spica

ACTEC Law Journal

Editor's synopsis: Exercising special powers of appointment over tax advantages trusts in a jurisdiction that has enacted perpetuities reform can be hazardous in light of the so-called "Delaware tax trap" and the "constructive additions" and trust-modification rules of the Treasury's GST-tax effective date regulations. Compliance with these federal tax rules against perpetuities may or may not be guaranteed by the applicable reform legislation. This Article examines a particular situation in which self-help is required for compliance, offers a set of forced-vested provisions to fit the bill, and indicates how those provisions can be adatpted for use in other situations in …

Front Matter

ACTEC Law Journal

No abstract provided.

The Physician Orders For Life-Sustaining Treatment (Polst) Coming Soon To A Health Care Community Near You, Robert B. Wolf, Marilyn J. Maag, Keith Bradoc Gallant

ACTEC Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Front Matter

ACTEC Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Book Review: Robespierre Meets The Foreign Tax Credit: Reflections On Piketty's "Capital In The Twenty-First Century" And The Contemporary Tax Policy Debate, Michael A. Livingston

ACTEC Law Journal

No abstract provided.

The Terms Of The Trust: Extrinsic Evidence Of Settlor Intent, Fred Franke, Anna Katherine Moody

ACTEC Law Journal

Each edition of the Restatement of Trusts defined the phrase "the terms of the trust" exactly the same. It means the manifestation of the settlor's intent expressed in a manner that admits of its proof in judicial proceedings. This definition weds the language of the instrument to the evidentiary rules governing Trust contests. This article explores the extent to which extrinsic evidence of settlor intent is admissable and consequently a consideration for those puzzling out the meaning of a trust.

The Persistent Preference For Inception Assets, Trent S. Kiziah, J. Clay Singleton, Stewart A. Marshall Iii

ACTEC Law Journal

Often trusts contain assets which were formerly owned by the grantor. This article addresses whether trustees should give any preference to these assets in managing the trust portfolio. Particular attention is given to how the law has treated these assets over time and the current state of the law. For those trustees who wish to retain inception assets, the article contains practical guidelines to assist trustees.

Front Matter

ACTEC Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Ira Administration For High Net Worth Clients And Their Beneficiaries -- Unique Challenges And Best Practices For Financial Institutions, Svetlana V. Bekman

ACTEC Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Killing Your Chances Of Inheriting: The Problem With The Application Of The Slayer Statute To Cases Of Assisted Suicide, Ryan Konsdorf, Scott Alden Prulhiere

ACTEC Law Journal

No abstract provided.

How To Draft Trusts To Own Retirement Benefits, Keith A. Herman

ACTEC Law Journal

No abstract provided.

The Intermediary Clat Alternative To The Residuary Estate Family Foundation Gift, Richard S. Franklin, Jennifer A. Birchfield Goode

ACTEC Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Eliminate State Tax On Trust Income: A Comprehensive Update On Planning With Incomplete Gift Non-Grantor Trusts, Kevin R. Ghassomian

ACTEC Law Journal

Private letter rulings dating back to 2001 affirm various tax attributes of incomplete gift non-grantor trusts, known popularly as "DING Trusts," which have been used by taxpayers to relocate investments from high-tax states to no-tax states. In 2007, the Internal Revenue Service questioned the integrity of its rulings on the DING Trust and cast doubt on its continuing viability for tax planning purposes. After nearly six years of indecision, a flurry of favorable new rulings was released in March of 2013, restoring widespread confidence in the DING Trust as an option for taxpayers seeking relief from rising income tax rates. …

State Taxation Of Trusts And Their Beneficiaries When There Are Multiple State Contacts, John Mcgown Jr.

ACTEC Law Journal

This article examines the state income taxation of testamentary trusts and individual trust beneficiaries when there are multiple state contacts. For matters of illustration, the focus is on states comprising the Northwest Idaho, Wyoming, Montana, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, and Utah. Since three of these states have no individual income tax, essence of the inquiry is limited to the state income tax systems of Idaho, Utah, Montana, and Oregon. Although the focus is on states in the Northwest, the concept applies nationwide. Before moving on to an examination of the state taxation topic, a review of the basic federal system of …

The Life And Death Of The Ipswich Grammar School Trust: Is Enduring Dead Hand Control Possible?, Ronald Chester

ACTEC Law Journal

This article examines the reasons for the 360-year longevity of the Ipswich (Mass.) Grammar School trust, which was in force from 1652 to 2012, the longest-running charitable trust in American history. It concludes that the cornerstone of the trust’s longevity was the emphasis of its major donor, the Puritan William Paine, on open-handed contribution to the community, rather than dead hand control. A wealthy merchant and landowner and friend of Massachusetts Bay Colony Governor John Winthrop and his son, Paine imbued his commercial activities with a profound civic-mindedness.

A 1647 law required the establishment of a grammar school by any …

Protecting Your Clients' Assets From Their Future Ex-Sons And Daughters-In-Law: The Impact Of Evolving Trust Laws On Alimony Awards, Christopher J. Roman

ACTEC Law Journal

No abstract provided.

California Income Taxation Of Trusts And Estates, Richard S. Kinyon, Kim Marois, Sonja K. Johnson

ACTEC Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Coming Ashore - Planning For Year 2017 Offshore Deferred Compensation Arrangements: Using Clats, Ppli And Preferred Partnerships And Consideration Of The Charitable Partial Interest Rules, N. Todd Angkatavanich, Jonathan G. Blattmachr, James R. Brockway

ACTEC Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Front Matter

ACTEC Law Journal

No abstract provided.

The Federal Tax Treatment Of Disclaimers Of Future Interests: A Call For Reform, Trent S. Kiziah

ACTEC Law Journal

Federal tax laws essentially preclude individuals with a future interest from disclaiming because the time in which a qualified disclaimer can be executed may pass before the person becomes aware of the interest and long before the interest becomes possessory and fixed as to quality and quantity. This article examines the state of the law prior to enactment of these limiting tax provisions, examines the call for reform by commentators, and examines the legislative history resulting in the current law. The author asserts Congress made an informed decision albeit a poor one. The author recommends Congress revisit the issue and …

The Life And Death Of John J. Stevens, Esq., As A Member Of The Legal Profession, Max Gutierrez Jr.

ACTEC Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Front Matter

ACTEC Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Can State Law Remedies Revive Statutes Stricken By Erisa's Preemption Provision?, Justin A. Kesselman

ACTEC Law Journal

Since the United State Supreme Court's holding in Egelhoff that ERISA preempts state law revocation-on-divorce statutes, courts and legal scholars have attempted to fashion a way to apply the policies of these statutes to effect the presumed intent of an employee not to provide retirement plan benefits to a former spouse. This paper analyzes those efforts and contrasts the statutory remedy suggested in the Uniform Probate Code with the common law remedy of imposing a constructive trust on the recipient of those benefits. In this author's view, the constructive trust is the sounder approach, because it preserves the presumption embedded …

Sex Post Facto: Advising Clients Regarding Posthumous Conception, Benjamin C. Carpenter

ACTEC Law Journal

Apart from tax considerations, trust and estate law is often viewed by outsiders as a somewhat dusty area of the law. However, few examples better illustrate the intersection of law and technology than posthumous conception and estate law. While judges, legislators, and commentators have tackled some of the issues created by posthumous conception, few estate planning lawyers discuss the issue with their clients. Such hesitance has been understandable, given the moral sensitivities involved with posthumous conception and the relatively small likelihood that it will affect any one particular client. However, that likelihood is becoming greater with each passing year, and, …

Estate Planning Issues With Intra-Family Loans And Notes, Stephen R. Akers, Philip J. Hayes

ACTEC Law Journal

Intra-family loans are quite prevalent, and can present significant estate planning opportunities. Loans among family members may seem simple, but they involve numerous complexities. The article addresses many of the complexities including estate, gift and income tax consequences of loans to both the lenders and borrowers in a wide variety of situations -- from simple cash loans to sophisticated sale transactions.