A Lawyer's Guide to Estate Planning: Fundamentals for the Legal Practitioner (ABA)

1 Chapter Beginning the Process

• 1.1 Initial Client Contact
• 1.2 Initial Conference
• 1.3 Formulating the Estate Plan
• Appendix A Family Questionnaire
• Appendix A Asset Questionnaire
• Appendix B Engagement Letter for Individual
• Appendix B Engagement Letter for Couple
• Appendix B Additional Terms and Conditions of Client Employment
• Appendix B Privacy Notice
• Appendix C Estate Tax Worksheet
• Appendix D Dispositive Checklist
• Appendix E Letter of Instructions

2 Chapter Estate Tax Overview

• 2.1 Introduction
• 2.2 Gross Estate
• 2.3 Adjusted Gross Estate
• 2.4 Taxable Estate
• 2.5 Net Estate Tax
• 2.6 Filing and Payment
• Appendix A Unified Transfer Tax Rate Schedule

3 Chapter Gift Tax Overview

• 3.1 Background
• 3.2 Annual Exclusion and Split Gifts
• 3.3 Income Tax Basis in Gift Property
• 3.4 Transfers Not Subject to Gift Tax
• 3.5 Gifts for the Benefit of Children
• 3.6 Special Situations
• Appendix A 2018 Individual Income Tax Rate Schedules
• Appendix B 2018 Income Tax Rate Schedules for Use by Estate and Nongrantor Trusts

4 Chapter Generation Skipping Transfer Tax

• 4.1 Background
• 4.2 Overview
• 4.3 Additional Cautions

5 Chapter Trusts and Their Uses

• 5.1 Background
• 5.2 Types of Trusts

6 Chapter Powers of Appointment

• 6.1 Background
• 6.2 Estate and Gift Tax Provisions
• 6.3 Effective Uses of Powers
• 6.4 Interpretation and Drafting Considerations

7 Chapter Marital Deduction Planning

• 7.1 Background
• 7.2 Basic Requirements
• 7.3 Marital Deduction and Portability

8 Chapter Life Insurance Planning

• 8.1 Basic Types of Life Insurance
• 8.2 Taxation of Life Insurance Benefits
• 8.3 Special Types of Life Insurance
• 8.4 Life Insurance Trusts
• Appendix A Uniform Premiums for $1,000 of Group Term Life Insurance Protection

9 Chapter Charitable Giving

• 9.1 Background
• 9.2 Estate and Gift Tax Requirements
• 9.3 Income Tax Requirements
• 9.4 Special Types of Charitable Gifts
• 9.5 Charitable Remainder Trusts
• 9.6 Charitable Lead Trust
• 9.7 Ira Distribution

10 Chapter Business Buy Sell Agreements

• 10.1 Background
• 10.2 Redemption and Cross-purchase Agreements
• 10.3 Specific Considerations

11 Chapter Retirement Plans and Benefits

• 11.1 Background
• 11.2 Types of Retirement Plans
• 11.3 Participation, Vesting, and Nondiscrimination
• 11.4 Top-heavy Plans
• 11.5 Social Security Integration
• 11.6 Penalty Taxes
• 11.7 Distributions

12 Chapter Valuation of Assets

• 12.1 Background
• 12.2 Real Estate
• 12.3 Tangible Personal Property
• 12.4 Intangible Personal Property

13 Chapter Postmortem Estate Planning

• 13.1 Background
• 13.2 Qualified Disclaimers
• 13.3 Will and Estate Litigation
• 13.4 Considerations Affecting the Estate Taxes
• 13.5 Considerations Affecting Income Taxes

14 Chapter Choosing Executors and Trustees

• 14.1 Choosing an Executor
• 14.2 Choosing a Trustee
• 14.3 Trustee Removal
• 14.4 Individual Trustees

15 Chapter Sample Forms

• Chapter 15 Sample Forms
• 15.1 Corporate Redemption Agreement
• 15.2 Stockholder Cross-purchase Agreement
• 15.3 A-b Trust Planning Approach: Equalization of Estate Between Husband and Wife
• 15.4 Marital Deduction Planning with Disclaimer Trust
• 15.5 Minor's or Educational Trust
• 15.6 Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust
• 15.7 Will, Trust, and Premarital Agreement
• 15.8 Special Needs Trust for Handicapped Child
• 15.9 Income-only Trust
• 15.10 Charitable Remainder Trusts
• 15.11 Standby Trust
• 15.12 Living Trust