Financial planning expert Richard E. Haas explores cutting-edge concepts that expand charitable estate options for a family. By using real plans for real families, this book offers a variety of new techniques and tools that can be applied to solve many problems. It is all clear. And all very readable -- with an ample supply of endnotes for those who would like more details.

With an emphasis on tax planning, Federal Taxation of Wealth Transfers: Cases and Problems integrates stimulating problems with statutes, regulations, and cases to create a highly teachable and student-friendly casebook. This casebook emphasizes problem solving, statutory construction, and policy-analysis skills, and is ideal for 2- or 3-credit courses in estate and gift taxation. The text has been expanded to feature new cases, administrative rulings, and studies. Existing cases and text have been edited or deleted to highlight essential themes. The casebook is logically organized but its flexible organization accommodates reorganizing material to fit individual course structures, and could be used for a basic wealth transfer tax class or to complement an estate planning course. New to the 5th Edition: Alyssa A. DiRusso joins as a co-author, bringing her background in high-net-worth practice and in-house fiduciary administration to broaden the book’s perspective. A new introduction to gratuitous transfers in Chapter 1. More detailed analysis of defined value clauses in Chapter 3. A new section on taxation of nonprofit organizations in Chapter 14. New cases throughout the book. Updated values and computations. Professors and students will benefit from: Organization – the book is organized by the three different transfer taxes and by IRC section. Flexibility – the text, cases, and problems allow a focus on statutory construction, planning, or policy. Focus on basics – the book is adaptable to a two- or three-credit transfer tax course, to supplement an estate planning course, or for an LLM course. Detailed textual explanations with references to current cases and administrative rulings—but they also provide historical context and development. Problems that focus on discrete issues to build a solid foundation. Edited cases that focus on fundamentals.

If you want to take a problem approach to estate and gift taxation, be sure to consider this new casebook. Federal Taxation of Wealth Transfers emphasizes planning and integrates problems with statutes, regulation cases and administrative regulations to create a teachable, accessible casebook. Instructors will appreciate the casebookiquest;s logical, flexible organization: Begins with general introductory chapters covering history and policy, income tax issues, and valuation and calculation of the tax. Discrete sections address gift tax, estate tax, deductions and credits, and generation-skipping tax. Each part of the book is self contained for easy reorganization to fit various teaching approaches. the author encourages student comprehension: Ample textual material puts the cases and problems in context. Problems have been extensively class-tested for effectiveness. Emphasis on problem-solving, statutory construction, and policy analysis skills. the casebook is the ideal length for a three-credit basic wealth transfer tax class. Problems foster discussion not only of rules, but also of policy and planning issues. an in-depth Teacher's Manual includes analysis of the cases and problems. For a modern exposition of the full range of tax implications involved in the transfer of wealth, turn to Federal Taxation of Wealth Transfers: Cases and Problems .

This article critically examines the estate and gift tax rules currently applicable to marital wealth transfers and proposes a new system in which all transfers between spouses will be subject to taxation. The article begins by tracing the historic development of what the author calls the one flesh, one taxpayer approach to wealth transfer taxation. Over a period of more than thirty years, the marital deduction evolved from a tool for achieving geographic uniformity into an institution based on an unreal and idealized story of proper gender roles and the economic significance of marriage. After describing the wealth transfer tax benefits of marriage under present law, the article next analyzes the jurisprudential implications of the extant one flesh, one taxpayer approach to wealth transfer taxation. Notwithstanding the law's gender neutrality, the author argues that the current estate and gift tax approach to marriage is a vestige of the common law rule of coverture that suspended a woman's legal identity during marriage. Furthermore in departure from important tax policy goals, federal wealth transfer tax laws privilege heterosexual marital relationships over other socially important relationships with economic or emotional characteristics similar to marriage. The author proposes the elimination of the marital deduction in favor of a one flesh, two taxpayer approach to marriage that would cause all gratuitous transfers to be subject to taxation, regardless of the identity of the recipient. As part of this proposal, the author advocates increasing the applicable exclusion amount to $10 million. The author argues that raising the exemption amount will increase federal tax revenue and enhance the vitality of common law and community property systems. The article concludes by connecting the estate and gift tax treatment of marriage to the larger issue of estate tax repeal and reform.

Take control of your most important retirement assets Investment advisors, financial planners, accountants, and attorneys are always hungry for expert advice and guidance on the best ways to help their clients make the most of their investments during their work lives and successfully manage their payouts when they retire. Written by two of today's most visible retirement planning experts, Tax-Deferred Investing meets that need. Cory Grant and Andrew Westhem describe proven wealth-building and payout strategies for both employers and employees. A complete guide to plan selection, investment, asset allocation, and distribution strategies Includes estate planning techniques for keeping the wealth in a family from one generation to the next Cory C. Grant (La Jolla, CA) is Executive Vice President of Westhem Group/Wealth Planning, Inc., and a specialist on advanced estate, retirement, and business planning strategies. Andrew Westhem (La Jolla, CA) is President of Westhem Group/Wealth Planning, Inc., focusing on advanced estate, retirement, and business planning strategies.

Too many people make the wrong choices when it comes to estate planning. If it's not done properly, you could leave your loved ones facing trouble when you pass away or become incapacitated. Fortunately, you can learn from others' mistakes and be prepared before speaking to a lawyer about your future. In this no-nonsense guide, attorney James L. Cunningham, Jr. shows how to avoid the top-ten mistakes that could damage your financial succession, family, heirs, and legacy. You'll get the unvarnished picture on probate, living trusts, living wills, powers of attorney, conservators, and guardians, as well as disability and incapacity planning and how to find the right attorney for you. There's even a checklist to guide you on what issues to discuss with them. Savvy Estate Planning provides the essentials you need to know about estate planning. The only mistake you could make now would be to ignore it.

The Model Rules of Professional Conduct provides an up-to-date resource for information on legal ethics. Federal, state and local courts in all jurisdictions look to the Rules for guidance in solving lawyer malpractice cases, disciplinary actions, disqualification issues, sanctions questions and much more. In this volume, black-letter Rules of Professional Conduct are followed by numbered Comments that explain each Rule's purpose and provide suggestions for its practical application. The Rules will help you identify proper conduct in a variety of given situations, review those instances where discretionary action is possible, and define the nature of the relationship between you and your clients, colleagues and the courts.