THE TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES OF ESTATE PLANNING

14th Edition

Course Synopsis

This comprehensive course presents a clear and concise explanation of the tools and techniques that can be used in the planning process involving the accumulation, conservation, and distribution of an estate.  The new edition covers the entire estate planning process beginning with Part 1 on the Purpose and Practice of Estate Planning, including chapters on what is estate planning and data gathering and analysis. Part 2 covers Ownership and Transfer of Property and includes chapters on wills, powers of appointment, disclaimers, and probate. Part 3 covers Taxes in general, including income, estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxation. It also discusses planning for non-U.S. persons and post mortem elections. Part 4 covers Gifts and and Part 5 covers all types of estate planning Trusts, including marital deduction and bypass trusts, Section 2503(b) and 2503(cc) trusts, GRATs, GRUTs, QPRTs, defective trusts, and tax basis revocable trusts. Part 6 covers Life Insurance and life insurance trusts and Part 7 covers charitable giving. Part 8 covers Intrafamily and Other Business Transfer Techniques and Part 9 covers Planning for Employee Benefits and Retirement. Part 10 covers Miscellaneous Issues such as Incapacity Planning and Planning for Non-Traditional Relationships and Part 11 covers Valuation Issues.

Over 50 tools and techniques are covered. For most of the tools or techniques, a student is taken on a step-by-step basis through the answers to questions such as: What is the tool or technique? When is the use of such a device indicated? Advantages or disadvantages? What are the requirements? How is it done? What are the tax implications?