06/05/2013
Estate planning is important for all families, but it is particularly important for families who are caring for a disabled child or relative. This program will equip attendees with the tools an attorney needs to create an effective special needs plan....
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06/05/2013 - 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
The final "First Wednesdays" session for the program year will provide an overview of estate planning with retirement benefits, including a discussion of the most effective ways to make retirement benefits payable to trusts, traps for the unwary, and the practical issues that arise when it comes time to implement beneficiary designations. The session will also include a discussion of Roth IRA conversions, and what to consider when advising whether to pursue them....
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05/21/2013
This program will not only provide substantive mediation tips and best practices useful for the new mediator, but will also delve into more complex real estate specific topics -- in the context of the mediation process....
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05/17/2013 - 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
In this low interest rate environment, more clients are looking to take advantage of intra-family loans and notes. The program will focus on the estate planning considerations of this wealth transfer vehicle, including the advantages and disadvantages over gifts and how best to structure the transaction....
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05/10/2013 - 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Seasoned real estate and trusts and estates practitioners will discuss the considerations relevant to a decision to enter into Conservation and Agricultural Restrictions in the real estate development and estate planning contexts....
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05/01/2013 - 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
The attorney-client relationship, engagement and fee structure has traditionally revolved around hourly billing,limited-scope representation and conflictsof interest. In recent years, this model has been more frequently modified or re-invented to suit client’' needs in this everchanging legal, political, and economic environment. This presentation is designed to explore some of the new attorney-client relationship models and fee structures that allow the attorney to return to his or her role as the trusted advisor while creating a profitable business (law firm) that may become recession-proof....
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04/26/2013 - 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
2012 was the year of the gift and 2013 will be the year of the gift tax return. Join this open forum to discuss advanced issues in gift tax return preparation, including gift splitting, reporting transactions involving generation skipping transfer tax, and making adequate disclosure. Practitioners experienced in gift tax return preparation will be on hand to answer questions and discuss issues....
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04/03/2013 - 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
This panel discussion will feature attorneys who have either started firms or practices that concentrate on trusts & estates. Discussion topics will include considerations in the initial set-up of an estate planning practice, the integration of trusts & estates with other practice areas, and how to market the practice and find and retain clients. The panel will also discuss their own individual career paths, including areas of specialization....
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04/01/2013 - 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Presenters Susan Abbott and Alyssa Fitzgerald of Goodwin Procter LLP will discuss what it means to tip from a public charity to a private foundation, the options for organizations faced with a potential "tipping" situation and the consequence of tipping....
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03/19/2013 - 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
This presentation will focus on the basic tax issues of which practicing elder law attorneys should have a basic knowledge....
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03/06/2013 - 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
This brown bag lunch presentation will provide an overview of how to prepare the federal Form 706 and Massachusetts M-706. The target member of the audience is the practitioner who wants a practical and fundamental review of preparing these estate tax returns. The speakers will focus on the filing thresholds for the estate tax returns, the domicile of the decedent, ancillary probate, the estate tax return schedules, and how the preparation of the estate tax returns often are coordinated with the estate administration process.
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02/22/2013 - 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
In the aftermath of the "gifting frenzy" at the close of 2012, some clients may now be re-evaluating the transfers made at year end and wondering whether such transfers can and should be undone. Focusing on both popular and emerging gifting techniques (such as the Spousal Lifetime Access Trust), this brown bag will explore the issues clients should address before deciding to undue a gift and what options might be available to a client who wants to reverse a transfer....
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02/13/2013
Fiscal Cliff Averted! But Now What? This program will provide an overview of ATRA, including changes to capital gain, dividend, ordinary income taxes, and employment taxes. It will also review changes to the transfer taxes (estate, gift and GST), and deduction and credit changes....
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02/12/2013 - 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
This brown bag lunch presentation will provide an overview of estate administration topics in Massachusetts. The target member of the audience is the practitioner who wants a practical and fundamental review of Massachusetts estate administration. The speakers will focus on estate administration under the Massachusetts Uniform Probate Code, administration of non-probate assets, trust administration, estate taxes, income taxes, and disclaimer planning....
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01/30/2013 - 04:00 PM to 07:00 PM
The spousal elective share statute proposed by the Ad Hoc Committee on the Spousal Elective Share is being considered for approval by the BBA. To ensure that all interested Trusts & Estates Section members have an opportunity to consider and comment on the proposal, the Section is holding one more open discussion on January 30, 2013 from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m....
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01/29/2013 - 12:30 PM to 01:30 PM
Lawyers are often asked by clients or family members to serve as trustee, executor, guardian or in some other fiduciary capacity. The request may be flattering, and accepting can seem tempting - but what are the risks? How might such risks be mitigated? Richard Zielinski and Gary Ronan of the Professional Liability Practice at Goulston & Storrs can provide some guidance....
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01/15/2013 - 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
The presentation will focus on how elder law attorneys can use information on VA benefits to assist their clients in being able to remain in the community, rather than a
nursing home....
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01/09/2013 - 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Sara Wells will provide an overview of the federal gift tax return (Form 709). This form is used to report and pay tax on lifetime gifts and is an integral part of the estate planning process. The presentation will cover the general purposes and structure of the form, as well as provide tips for preparing it....
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12/13/2012 - 12:30 PM to 02:00 PM
An annual event not to be missed, the Trusts and Estates Section Mid-Year Review covers recent federal and state case law, legislation and tax law matters. This year's Mid-Year review will touch on federal tax cases, Massachusetts case law, and legislative updates....
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12/05/2012 - 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Christopher Perry (of Northern Trust) & Laurence Constable, Esq. (of Holland & Knight) will review the general tax rules applicable to taxable gifts, explore benefits of lifetime gifting from the estate planning perspective, and identify potential pitfalls for the practitioner to try to avoid....
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11/16/2012 - 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
With the prospect of a substantial decrease in the available federal gift and GST tax exemptions and a sharp increase in federal gift and GST tax rates becoming effective on January 1, 2013, a window of opportunity exists to make gifts during the last few weeks of 2012. With the few weeks that remain this year, what planning steps can be taken? This program will discuss last minute gift and GST tax planning ideas for 2012 and pitfalls to avoid....
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11/09/2012 - 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
Solo & Small Firm Section welcomes BBA members of all sections to join our monthly Meet & Greet Luncheons every second Friday from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm. This is an opportunity to meet your fellow bar members while enjoying lunch at the BBA.
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11/08/2012 - 05:30 PM to 07:00 PM
A panel composed of an in-house trust company professional, planned giving director, non-profit attorney, solo practitioner, and elder law attorney will share some of their experiences, struggles, and successes in a round table format. There will be plenty of time to network with the panelists and your colleagues....
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11/07/2012 - 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
This is the second part in a year-long series of monthly discussions designed to provide new and transitioning practitioners a core set of tools necessary to practice in the areas of estate planning and probate administration. The series will cover substantive legal aspects of the practice, as well as practice tools, management and marketing concepts necessary to build a successful Trusts and Estates practice....
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10/19/2012 - 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
The program will review the workings of the proposed Massachusetts Spousal Elective Share statute and provide a forum for discussion. The proposed Massachusetts Spousal Elective Share statute is being considered by Boston Bar Association and this Brown Bag program will provide an opportunity for members of the bar to learn more about the proposed statute and provide feedback....
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10/03/2012
This cutting edge program will address the many issues that may arise in drafting and administering trusts under the new MUPC and MUTC. Specifically, the panel of experienced practitioners will discuss salient provisions in the new laws, explain practical implications of the new laws for practitioners and trustees, and explore aspects of the law that remain unclear or which may represent traps for the unwary....
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10/03/2012 - 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
This first session will lay a foundation for the series by providing a basic overview of the estate, gift and GST taxes. Speaker Geoffrey Mason of Ropes & Gray will explain the scope of the taxes and how they drive certain aspects of the estate planning process....
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09/28/2012 - 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
This brown bag lunch will highlight how and when you might wish to update your estate planning forms, as well as address new concepts such as pet trusts, purpose trusts and directed trustees....
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09/20/2012 - 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
Join the Elder Law & Disability Planning Committee for a program on the MUPC, it's implemenation in the various probabte courts, and valuable information that attorneys should know about the MUPC prior to filing any documents....
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09/19/2012 - 04:00 PM to 07:00 PM
A distinguished panel including all the members of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Spousal Elective Share will lead a discussion of the proposed statute, explaining how it would work, taking feedback, addressing concerns and answering questions....
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