Product Description

Recent updates:

• Update: September 2024

  Dear Subscriber:

  Thank you for updating your library with the 2024 edition of A Practical Guide to A Practical Guide to Estate Planning in Connecticut. Highlights from the issues addressed in this revision include

  • adjusted dollar thresholds for federal estate and gift tax, scheduled to revert to pre-2018 levels in 2026;

  • updated references to the ACTEC Commentaries on the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct;

  • a recent U.S. Tax Court memorandum and other authorities addressing the necessity of an adequate gift tax return disclosure to start the running of the statute of limitations;

  • issuance of a proposed regulation that would exempt gifts includible in the donor’s estate from IRS anticlawback regulations;

  • provisions of the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 taking effect in
    • 2022 (qualified beneficiaries allowed to be designated beneficiaries of special needs trusts without changing the applicable payout period);
    • 2023 (age threshold applicable to required minimum distributions from certain retirement accounts);
    • 2024 (rollovers from certain Section 529 accounts to Roth IRAs); and
    • 2026 (onset-of-disability age applicable to Section 529A ABLE accounts);

  • provisions of the Housing Opportunities Through Modernization Act effective January 1, 2024;

  • a review of provisions includable in premarital agreements and guidance on enforceability;

  • incorporation of information on gender identity and preferred pronouns in the preparation of estate planning questionnaires;

  • recent case law on the determination of child support obligations; and

  • the imposition of statutory interest for unnecessary delay in executing qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs).

  We trust you will find the 2024 edition of A Practical Guide to Estate Planning in Connecticut a valuable resource, as we at MCLE continue our efforts to bring you the latest solutions to the issues you face in your practice.

  Very truly yours,

  John M. Lawlor MCLE Publications Attorney

Table of Contents

Chapter 01 expand

Practical Steps in Handling an Estate Planning Matter

Buy Chapter

David R. Hermenze, Esq., Brody Wilkinson PC.

Checklist 1.1

- Considerations for Initial Estate Planning Client Contact Buy Form

Checklist 1.2

- Checklist for Introductory Estate Planning Client Meeting Buy Form

Exhibit 1A

- Introductory Letter (Short Form) Buy Form

Exhibit 1B

- Introductory Letter (Long Form) Buy Form

Exhibit 1C

- Estate Planning Questionnaire (Short Form) Buy Form

Exhibit 1D

- Estate Planning Questionnaire (Long Form) Buy Form

Exhibit 1E

- Nonengagement Letter Buy Form

Exhibit 1F

- Engagement Letter (Short Form) Buy Form

Exhibit 1G

- Engagement Letter (Medium Form) Buy Form

Exhibit 1H

- Engagement Letter (Long Form) Buy Form

Exhibit 1I

- Letter of Explanation (Single Client) Buy Form

Exhibit 1J

- Letter of Explanation (Married Clients) Buy Form

Exhibit 1K

- First-Draft Follow-Up Letter Buy Form

Exhibit 1L

- Letter Enclosing Final Drafts Buy Form

Exhibit 1M

- Self-Proving Affidavit Buy Form

Exhibit 1N

- Letter Enclosing Copies of Signed Originals and Concluding Representation Buy Form

Exhibit 1O

- Final Fixed-Fee Bill Buy Form

Chapter 02 expand

Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Transfer Taxes

Buy Chapter

Edward F. Krzanowski, Esq., Day Pitney LLP
Anna Rothfus Merin, Esq., Day Pitney LLP

Checklist 2.1

- Checklist of Gifting Considerations Buy Form

Exhibit 2A

- GST Tax: Questions and Answers for Spotting Potential Skips Buy Form

Exhibit 2B

- GST Tax: Examples and Illustrations for the Rules on Automatic Deemed Allocation of GST Tax Exemption to “Indirect Skips” Buy Form

Chapter 03 expand

Fundamental Testamentary Planning

Buy Chapter

Danielle P. Ferrucci, Esq., Shipman & Goodwin LLP
Bryon W. Harmon, Esq., Shipman & Goodwin LLP

Exhibit 3A

- Pour-Over Will Provision: Pour-Over Residue to Own Trust Buy Form

Exhibit 3B

- Pour-Over Will Provision: Residue to Other Person’s Trust Buy Form

Exhibit 3C

- Marital Deduction/Generation-Skipping Trust Buy Form

Chapter 04 expand

Marital Deduction Planning and Drafting Techniques

Buy Chapter

John R. Ivimey, Esq., Reid and Riege, PC

Checklist 4.1

- Checklist of Considerations as to Whether a Trust Qualifies as a Marital Deduction (Connecticut) Buy Form

Checklist 4.2

- Checklist of Reasons Not to Use a Single QTIP Trust (Connecticut) Buy Form

Chapter 05 expand

Lifetime Asset Transfers

Buy Chapter

Lisa F. Metz, Esq., Brody Wilkinson PC
Peter T. Mott, Esq., Brody Wilkinson PC

Checklist 5.1

- Nontax Considerations for Establishing an Inter Vivos Trust Buy Form

Exhibit 5A

- Sample Section 2503(c) Trust Buy Form

Exhibit 5B

- Sample Crummey Trust for Minor Children Buy Form

Exhibit 5C

- Sample Crummey Trust for One Minor Child Buy Form

Chapter 06 expand

Charitable Giving Outright and in Trust

Buy Chapter

Peter Chadwick, Esq., Day Pitney LLP
Jennifer M. Pagnillo, Esq., Day Pitney LLP

Exhibit 6A

- IRS Revenue Procedures Issuing Sample Charitable Split-Interest Trust Forms Buy Form

Chapter 07 expand

Life Insurance and Estate Planning

Buy Chapter

Richard A. Marone, Esq., Murtha Cullina LLP

Chapter 08 expand

Durable Powers of Attorney, Advance Health Care Directives, Living Wills, Appointment of Health Care Representatives, and Designation of Conservator

Buy Chapter

Greta E. Solomon, Esq., Cohen and Wolf, PC

Exhibit 8A

- Durable Power of Attorney Buy Form

Exhibit 8B

- Durable Statutory Power of Attorney (Long Form) Buy Form

Exhibit 8C

- Durable Statutory Power of Attorney (Short Form) Buy Form

Exhibit 8D

- Connecticut Statutory Living Will Buy Form

Exhibit 8E

- Connecticut Statutory Appointment of Health Care Representative Buy Form

Exhibit 8F

- HIPAA Release Form Buy Form

Exhibit 8G

- Designation of Conservator Buy Form

Chapter 09 expand

Estate Planning for Retirement Benefits

Buy Chapter

Mark W. Dost, Esq., Chipman Mazzucco Emerson LLC
Ronald J. Koniuta, Esq., Reid and Riege, PC

Exhibit 9A

- Uniform Lifetime Table A-2 Buy Form

Exhibit 9B

- Uniform Lifetime Table A-3 Buy Form

Exhibit 9C

- Sample Basic Beneficiary Designation Buy Form

Exhibit 9D

- Single Life Expectancy Table A-1 Buy Form

Exhibit 9E

- Distribution Period Buy Form

Chapter 10 expand

Basic Strategies to Preserve and Protect the Family Business

Buy Chapter

Jay M. Sattler, CPA, Clifton Larson Allen

Chapter 11 expand

Drafting and Administering the Special Needs Trust

Buy Chapter

Rebecca A. Iannantuoni, Esq., Day Pitney LLP

Exhibit 11A

- Sample: Material and Primary Purpose of Third-Party-Funded Trust Buy Form

Exhibit 11B

- Sample: Sole, Absolute, and Uncontrolled Discretion Provision for Third Party-Funded Trust Buy Form

Exhibit 11C

- Sample: Two-Share Provision Discretionary Supplemental Needs Trust Agreement Buy Form

Exhibit 11D

- Sample: Material and Primary Purpose of OBRA ’93 Trust Buy Form

Exhibit 11E

- Sample: Sole, Absolute, and Uncontrolled Discretion Provision for OBRA ’93 Trust Buy Form

Exhibit 11F

- Sample: Payback Provision for OBRA ’93 Trust Buy Form

Chapter 12 expand

Marital Agreements

Buy Chapter

Edward Bryan, Louden, Katz, McGrath & Bryan LLC

Checklist 12.1

- Premarital Agreement Checklist Buy Form

Checklist 12.2

- Postmarital Agreement Checklist Buy Form

Checklist 12.3

- Separation Agreement Checklist Buy Form

Checklist 12.4

- Cohabitation Agreement Checklist Buy Form

Chapter 13 expand

Nontraditional Estate Planning

Buy Chapter

Oliver K. Ayer, Esq., Day Pitney LLP
Christiana N. Gianopulos, Esq., Day Pitney LLP

Chapter 14 expand

Postmortem Estate Planning

Buy Chapter

Gregory A. Hayes, Esq., Day Pitney LLP
Darren M. Wallace, Esq., Day Pitney LLP

Checklist 14.1

- Checklist for Disclaimers Buy Form

Exhibit 14A

- Disclaimer of Powers as Beneficiary of Trust Buy Form

Exhibit 14B

- Disclaimer of an Interest in Real Estate Buy Form

Editor(s)

Author(s)