Completing the Picture: A Discussion of Assets that Pass Outside of the Estate Plan

Antiques, art, jewelry, and other family heirlooms are often the source of the most anxiety and carry the greatest potential for conflict following a death in the family. In many cases, the financial value of the “stuff” is modest relative to other assets that comprise a typical estate or trust. Mitigating the risks of fights over stuff also goes beyond the standard language that is often written into estate plan documents to dispose of tangible personal property at death. This presentation will examine a few of the ways in which planners can help their clients reduce the risk of destructive and costly fights over stuff long before their clients actually die. Originally presented as part of the Post-Death Administration of Trusts & Estates.

Sifting through a decedent’s life story can feel like a daunting task. However, one of the primary roles in an estate administration is untangling those threads to locate assets, titling, and gifting. Without the help of the decedent, it may feel a bit like paranormal magic. More often, it is sifting through the dusty paperwork in the closet and combing through the drawers. We will cover practical issues such as how to identify and locate the most pertinent documents, marshal and value assets, and identify liabilities and issues with resolving debts. Originally presented as part of the Post-Death Administration of Trusts & Estates.

The post-death tax landscape can be thorny. This presentation will provide a broad overview of personal income tax, fiduciary income tax, and estate and GST transfer tax and how each of these taxes are related. Originally presented as part of the Post-Death Administration of Trusts & Estates.