Estate Planning for Nontraditional Clients and Their Families ABA webinar [CC]
February 22 ABA webinar
Estate Planning for Nontraditional Clients and Their Families ABA program at 1pm
FREE FOR ABA MEMBERS
$130 NON-MEMBERS
https://www.americanbar.org/events-cle/mtg/web/420034083/
Join our esteemed panel as they discuss the ramifications of not preparing a will, types of Power of Attorneys, and the benefits of a living will.
Speakers
In the absence of a marriage, Will or other legal arrangement to distribute property at death, your partner does not receive your assets and cannot administer your estate. The result can be lengthy delays and other problems. Individuals in gay or lesbian relationships need properly drafted Wills and estate planning documents more than straight persons. The probate laws generally provide if a person dies without a Will, their property goes to family, rather than a partner they had a relationship with for years or decades.
Have a Power of Attorney prepared. In the absence of a Power of Attorney or other legal arrangement to distribute property if you become disabled, your partner cannot pay your bills or access your assets.
Sponsor ABA Solo, Small Firm and General Practice Division
Learning Objective #1: DISCUSS IF YOU HAVE NO WILL:
If you leave no Will or your Will is declared invalid because it was improperly prepared or is not admissible to probate:
* State law determines who gets assets, not you
* Additional expenses will be incurred and extra work will be required to qualify an administrator
* Possible additional State inheritance taxes and Federal estate taxes
* If you have no marriage, Civil Union , spouse, or close relatives the State may take your property
* The procedure to distribute assets becomes more complicated-and the law makes no exceptions for persons in unusual need or for your own wishes.
* It may also cause fights and lawsuits between your partner and your family
Learning Objective #2: DISCUSS : Have a Power of Attorney prepared. In the absence of a Power of Attorney or other legal arrangement to distribute property if you become disabled, your partner cannot pay your bills or access your assets.
· Learn Powers of Attorney and how to prepare them
Types of POAs; what should be included; why clients need them; POAs and Living Wills; sample forms
Learning Objective #3: DISCUSS Benefits of Living Wills, The aftermath of the Terry Schiavo case and Living Wills. Have a Living Will prepared. In the absence of a Living Will, marriage or other legal arrangement if you become disabled, your partner generally has no say regarding medical care or life support. Your partner cannot access your assets. Your partner cannot receive information on your medical status or medical care. Advance directives are very personal documents and you should feel free to develop one, which best suits, your own needs.
Speaker 1
Joan M. Burda Attorney at Law
Joan M. Burda is a lawyer with a solo practice in Lakewood, Ohio. She limits her practice to estate planning.
She is the author of the Award-winning book, Estate Planning for Same-Sex Couples, Third Edition (ABA 2015, 2012, 2004).
She is also the author of Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Clients: A Lawyer's Guide (ABA 2008). She has written numerous articles on LGBT legal issues.
In addition to these books, Joan writes regularly for various publications and websites on a variety of subjects.
Kenneth Vercammen, Esq. is an attorney in Edison, NJ. He is Chair of the ABA Probate & Estate Planning Law Committee of the American Bar Association Solo Small Firm Division. He is the author of the ABA book “Wills and Estate Administration”
He is a speaker for the NJ State Bar Association at the annual Nuts & Bolts of Elder Law & Estate Administration program. He is admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States.
He was Editor of the ABA Estate Planning Probate Committee Newsletter. Mr. Vercammen has published over 150 legal articles in national and New Jersey publications on Wills, litigation, estates, probate law and trial topics.
He is a highly regarded lecturer on litigation and probate law for the American Bar Association, NJ ICLE, NJ State Bar Association and Middlesex County Bar Association. His articles have been published in noted publications included New Jersey Law Journal, ABA Law Practice Management Magazine, and New Jersey Lawyer. He established the NJlaws website www.njlaws.com which includes many articles on Estate Planning, Probate and Wills.
KENNETH VERCAMMEN & ASSOCIATES, PC
ATTORNEY AT LAW
2053 Woodbridge Ave.
Edison, NJ 08817
(Phone) 732-572-0500
(Fax) 732-572-0030
www.njlaws.com
The book “Wills and Estate Administration” is available at
http://shop.americanbar.org/eBus/Store/ProductDetails.aspx?productId=224827061
