Best Practices for Structuring Trusts & Estates is an authoritative, insider's perspective on key strategies for estate planning. Featuring partners and shareholders from some of the nation's leading firms, these experts guide the reader through the unique nuances of trusts and estates law, including the complications of negotiating and settling family-related estate disputes, managing risk, contesting trusts or wills, and planning for wealth transfer. These top lawyers reveal their strategies for a variety of legal issues, such as the disposition of assets and succession planning, federal and state estate and income tax planning, the establishment of a protective conservatorship, and no-contest clause litigation. From creating successful client relationships and adding direct financial value to weighing the benefits and detriments of settling versus negotiating and staying up-to-date with new legislation, these authors delve into the importance of being a "family advisor" for clients faced with challenges and difficult decisions. The different niches represented and the breadth of perspectives presented enable readers to get inside some of the great legal minds of today, as these experienced lawyers offer up their thoughts around the keys to success an increasingly-enforced and rapidly-changing area of law.

Inside the Minds provides readers with proven business intelligence from C-Level executives (Chairman, CEO, CFO, CMO, Partner) from the world's most respected companies nation-wide, rather than third-party accounts from unknown authors and analysts. Each chapter is comparable to an essay/thought leadership piece and is a future-oriented look at where an industry, profession, or topic is headed and the most important issues for the future. Through an exhaustive selection process, each author was hand-picked by the Inside the Minds editorial board to author a chapter.

Chapters Include:

• 1. Steven P. Cole , Shareholder and Vice President, McAfee & Taft - "A Picture of Trusts and Estates Law";
• 2. John F. Shoro, Partner and Estate, Financial, and Tax Planning Practice Group Leader, Bowditch & Dewey LLP - "The Importance of Family and Giving Them a Sound Financial Future";
• 3. Sandra Brown Sherman , Partner, Riker, Danzig, Scherer, Hyland & Perretti LLP - "Trying to Create a Win-Win Situation";
• 4. Gary A. Zwick, Partner, Walter & Haverfield LLP - "Finding a Way to Say "Yes"";
• 5. Joseph D. Zaks , Partner, Roetzel & Andress LPA - "Estate Planning: More than Wills and Trusts";
• 6. G. Henry Welles, Partner, Best Best & Krieger LLP - "Trust and Estate Litigation in California."

Appendices:

• Appendix A: Pour Over Will Diagram
• Appendix B : Revocable Trust Diagram
• Appendix C: Revocable Trust Agreement
• Appendix D: Estate Planning Work Sheet
• Appendix E: Legal Representation Acknowledgment Letter
• Appendix F: Memorandum of Trust
• Appendix G: Summary of Revocable Trust Agreement
• Appendix H: Summary of Last Will and Testament
• Appendix I: Last Will and Testament
• Appendix J: Assignment
• Appendix K: Estate Planning Interview Form
• Appendix L: Sample Marital Trust Plan 1
• Appendix M: Sample Marital Trust Plan 2
• Appendix N: Irrevocable Insurance Trust Agreement
• Appendix O: FLAIR Trust Summary Memo
• Appendix P: Sample FLAIR Trust
• Appendix Q: Will Contest Petition
• Appendix R: Motion for Summary Judgment
• Appendix S: Petition to Remove Trustee
• Appendix T: Motion to Compel Mental Status Exam
• Appendix U: Petition for No-Contest Determination

See Above.