Estate Planning: Developing a Plan for the Intermediate Estate

A successful estate planning practice requires knowledge of federal and state statutes, rulings, and case law on a variety of substantive areas including taxation, trust, will, and property law. You must also possess finely tuned interview and drafting skills, as well as the ability to elicit and effectively use a substantial body of financial and personal data for each client.

This program gives you an overview of planning for a modest estate and the in-depth knowledge you need to plan for a variety of estate matters and run your practice well. The faculty focus on the practical application of the law and skills involved in planning an estate value of less than $2,000,000, although concerns that arise in larger estates are also covered. You learn to draft estate planning instruments while considering the impact of both the Massachusetts and the federal estate tax exemptions. You also get advice on how to prepare wills, trusts, health care proxies, and powers of attorney based on your client's financial situation.