Heckerling
Institute 2005
Reports from the event, as
posted to the ABA-PTL List Serve |
==============================================
This report covers the software and other vendors who are exhibiting
at the Institute.
Report by Jason Havens Esq. (with some update edits by Joseph G.
Hodges Jr.
Esq.)
The number of software and other vendors at the 2005 Institute
has grown to 113.
A complete list of those vendors was posted previously. The software
vendor list this year includes, in alphabetical order:
Authoritative.net & zCalc
BNA/Tax Management, Inc.
Brentmark Software. Inc.
CCH Tax and Accounting
Connect2a.com, L.L.C.
Eidelman Associates
Estate Valuations & Pricing Systems, Inc./EVP Systems, Inc.
EstateWorks
FASTER Systems, LLC
Financial Data Service, Inc.
Heritance System by DataTech SoftWare
InterActive Legal Systems
LAWGIC LLC
LexisNexis
ProDoc, Inc.
RIA
Schumacher Publishing, Inc.
The Lackner Group, Inc.
Thomson / Fast -Tax
Thomson West
Trusts and Estates
WealthCounsel, LLC
WealthWise, LLC
Following are some initial highlights and themes that should help
attendees to focus on the "latest and greatest" technology
and practice resources available to estate planning (trusts and
estates) lawyers. This is the official “first round,”
which shares highlights of our initial visits with the 2005 software
and other vendors. These highlights are classified in categories
(generally in alphabetical order) that will hopefully prove helpful
to list members.
A. CALCULATION SOFTWARE:
1. Estate & Gift Tax (TM) Planner by Bureau of National Affairs
(BNA)
(<http://www.bna.com/>
http://www.bna.com): BNA has supported their Estate & Gift Tax
Planner
(<http://www.bnasoftware.com/product/default.aspx?prod=etplanner>
http://www.bnasoftware.com/product/default.aspx?prod=etplanner)
for sixteen years. Like the Intuitive Estate Planner, the Estate
& Gift Tax Planner performs numerous calculations and has a
similar “spreadsheet”
look and feel. The Estate & Gift Tax Planner also includes the
ability to produce presentations. A “demo” version is
available at the BNA booth. The Estate & Gift Tax Planner costs
$1,195 for a single-user version according to the BNA website.
2. Brentmark
(<http://www.brentmark.com/>
http://www.brentmark.com): Brentmark’s Kugler Estate Analyzer
(TM)
(<http://www.brentmark.com/kugler.htm>
http://www.brentmark.com/kugler.htm)
has now been offered for approximately two years. The program uses
three
steps: client information, assets & liabilities, and techniques.
The program combines Brentmark’s Estate Planning QuickView
and Estate Planning Tools capabilities in that you can perform calculations
and illustrate planning techniques with flowcharts, such as generation-skipping
transfer
(GST) trusts, qualified personal residence trusts (QPRTs), grantor-retained
annuity trusts (GRATs), charitable remainder trusts (CRTs), charitable
lead trusts (CLTs), sales to grantor trusts, family limited partnerships
(FLPs), and testamentary charitable gifts. The Kugler Estate Analyzer
is still advertised on the Brentmark website at a price of $595
for a single-user license (with a $199 annual maintenance fee) or
$570 if downloaded from the Brentmark website. You may demonstrate
the Kugler Estate Analyzer via Brentmark’s site
(<http://www.brentmark.com/download.htm#Kugler>
http://www.brentmark.com/download.htm#Kugler)
or by stopping by the Brentmark booth, where Jane Schuck and others
will gladly give you a personal tour.
Brentmark, which is celebrating the company's 20th anniversary
this year, also offers the Retirement Income Navigator (TM); the
Pension & Roth IRA Analyzer, which was used throughout Ed Slott's
new book on the subject; and many others. Brentmark introduced the
Asset Transfers System, which tracks transferring and retitling
assets for a client, several years ago. One of the best features
of Brentmark’s website is the inclusion of most product user
manuals on the “Downloads” page:
<http://www.brentmark.com/download.htm>
http://www.brentmark.com/download.htm.
You can view each manual in your Adobe Acrobat Reader and decide
whether you would like to purchase a particular product. Most products
also feature a “demo” version, which are all included
on the “Downloads” page and are available at the Brentmark
booth as well.
3. Intuitive Estate Planner by Thomson/West (TM)
(<http://west.thomson.com/>
http://west.thomson.com): Besides the RIA products, including Warren,
Gorham & Lamont’s superb treatises and the various journals
of that group, Thomson/West has recently released the eighth version
of its comprehensive program known as the Intuitive Estate Planner
(IEP) (<http://west.thomson.com/customerservice/software/iep.asp>
http://west.thomson.com/customerservice/software/iep.asp).
The IEP is authored by Donald H. Kelley and Konrad Schmidt, III.
The IEP calculates and illustrates most estate planning techniques,
from split interest trusts to non-resident spouse situations to
gifts (even including calculation of the “gross-up”
rule under Internal Revenue Code § 2035(b) for taxable gifts
made within three years of death). The IEP coordinates a client’s
assets with the schedules of the federal estate tax return. The
IEP offers the ability to produce customized presentations based
on slides created from a client’s illustration, pre-formatted
slide shows, or your own customized slides. A slideshow demonstration
and software patch files are available via the IEP page of the Thomson/West
website. The IEP is priced at $895 for a single-user license according
to the Thomson/West website.
Of significant interest, the IEP is working on a seamless link
to the Lackner Group's 6-in-1 Windows-based tax preparation system
(below) and also to other legal software systems, such as Abacus
Law Gold (practice management system) and, as a result of the Abacus
Law Gold link, to HotDocs. The ability to migrate and link data
to various computer programs and systems within an office is critical
to efficiency. This commitment by the IEP is commendable and should
make single-entry input of data -- or at least most data -- a reality.
4. ViewPlan Advanced (TM) by Commerce Clearing House (CCH)
(<http://tax.cchgroup.com/>
http://tax.cchgroup.com): CCH’s ViewPlan Advanced has also
received a warm welcome from practitioners over the past two years.
This program integrates the features of the basic CCH ViewPlan,
Beneview, and Factuary modules. You can calculate and illustrate
more than twenty different asset transfer techniques including CRTs,
NIMCRUTs, CLTs, GRTs, QPRTs, and SCINs. The graphical flowcharts
are accompanied by built-in calculation logs. ViewPlan Advanced
works seamlessly with other CCH products such as Enteract (TM) financial
planning and Pro System fx (R) tax software programs, and uses Microsoft
standards. ViewPlan Advanced is still priced on the CCH website
at $1,490 for a single-user license.
5. WealthWise, LLC
(<http://www.wealthwisellc.com>
http://www.wealthwisellc.com): WealthWise was designed by Vincent
Travagliato using zCalc (below) as its foundation. What makes WealthWise
unique is that it creates more client-focused, summarized presentations,
most of which integrate the calculations and data from the zCalc
engine (which, as noted in the past, is built on Microsoft (R) Excel
(R)). WealthWise costs $495 initially for a single-user license
with an annual renewal of fee of $250 according to the WealthWise
website.
6. zCalc (<http://www.zcalc.com/>
http://www.zcalc.com): zCalc’s Tool Box illustrates most estate
planning techniques. Unlike other programs, zCalc can be customized
by changing the Tool Box templates or the actual functions in the
function library. zCalc is still reasonably priced at
$395 for the initial purchase of the Tool Box (a single-user license)
according to the zCalc website. The zCalc Tool Box Suite now includes
the Presentations program, which offers various presentations on
seventeen estate planning topics. Also noteworthy is that zCalc
has just been acquired by Thomson/West, which is likely to lead
to the eventual release of the authoritative.net suite of estate
planning systems/tools that was discussed in last year's technology
reports.
B. DRAFTING SOFTWARE:
1. Drafting Wills and Trust Agreements by Thomson/West (TM)
(<http://west.thomson.com/>http://west.thomson.com): Thomson/West
has supported its Drafting Wills and Trust Agreements (DWTA)
(<http://west.thomson.com/store/product.asp?product%5Fid=DWTA>
http://west.thomson.com/store/product.asp?product%5Fid=DWTA),
which was originally authored by Robert P. Wilkins and is now co-authored
by Michael L.M. Jordan, for nearly fifteen years.
Major news regarding DWTA was announced in 2004. In the past, DWTA
was based on CAPS (Capsoft), in contrast to several other drafting
systems based on the more progressive (and technologically-superior)
HotDocs engine (below). As of late 2004, however, DWTA became the
first major drafting system to operate on the GhostFill platform.
(GhostFill is the engine used inside of the popular Amicus Attorney
"front-end" practice management system for its Amicus
Assembly document assembly option.) In fact, Bart Earle's "Test
Drive" column features GhostFill and specifically mentions
DWTA in the most recent issue of Law Technology News (Dec. 2004
-- vol. 10, no. 12):
<http://www.lawtechnews.com/r5/showkiosk.asp?listing_id=477883>
http://www.lawtechnews.com/r5/showkiosk.asp?listing_id=477883.
Pricing for DWTA is $875. The DWTA form volumes
(<http://west.thomson.com/product/13513203/product.asp>
http://west.thomson.com/product/13513203/product.asp)
can still be purchased for $390 based on the Thomson/West website.
2. Lawgic (<http://www.lawgic.com/>
http://www.lawgic.com): Lawgic also functions as a “what-you-see-is-what-you-get”
program. The distinguished estate planning attorneys at the international
law firm of Holland & Knight, LLP have been updating the Lawgic
Wills & Trusts products, including Florida and Georgia, which
they originally authored. Well-known co-authors John Arthur Jones,
Edward F. Koren, Richard L. Stockton, and Bruce Stone have used
their well-drafted, “plain English” provisions to provide
updated, state-specific systems for California, Florida, and Georgia.
Lawgic offers wills, disability planning documents, and a number
of trusts (from revocable inter vivos trusts to insurance trusts
to various grantor trusts), as well as ancillary documents and client
letters. Lawgic is one of the only drafting systems that offers
state-specific documents with state-specific legal commentary on
various issues that arise from one state to another. Carlyn S. McCaffrey,
a distinguished estate planning practitioner at the international
law firm of Weil, Gosthal & Manges, LLP, agreed last year to
oversee Lawgic’s New York Trusts & Estates product and
the initial release of this new product is now targeted for spring
of 2005. Lawgic representatives are discussing the addition of other
distinguished practitioners as they release Wills & Trusts products
for other states. In fact, Maryland was added last year, which is
overseen by Abel J. Merrill. Notably, all Lawgic authors are fellows
of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC).
A ”Getting Started Guide” is available within the program
and via the Lawgic website. Lawgic’s website offers some excellent
“Product Training Videos” in the “Support”
portion of their site (under “Training”). Lawgic is
priced at $1,200 for a full version (single-user license) according
to the Lawgic website. A new development is the availability of
monthly subscription pricing, which is similar to ProDoc's drafting
system subscription (below) and allows you to obtain Lawgic at a
low cost and cancel the subscription at any time without penalty
(except for the first non-refundable month) according to the Lawgic
website.
3. ProDoc (<http://www.prodoc.com/>
http://www.prodoc.com): ProDoc offers Ronald Lipman’s will
and trust forms, the Florida Lawyer Support Services, Inc. (FLSSI)
probate and guardianship forms, and probate management and accounting
software as a part of its Estate Planning Library, which is advertised
at $95 per month. Other practice systems are available. ProDoc has
offered Florida and Texas versions for some time, and is about to
start offering California. A new feature of ProDoc is the Small
Office Suite, which is essentially a case management program (somewhat
similar to Abacus Law, Amicus Attorney, PC Law, or Time Matters)
that affords contact management, calendaring, and time billing capabilities.
ProDoc offers a user forum to its subscribers as well, which is
generally moderated by Mr.
Lipman.
4. WealthDocs by WealthCounsel
(<http://www.wealthcounsel.com/>http://www.wealthcounsel.com):
WealthCounsel will probably again be a popular booth. Their WealthDocs
drafting system functions as a “what-you-see-is-what-you-get”
program and includes various “practice systems” (or
modules) built on the HotDocs document assembly platform (below).
WealthCounsel includes more “practice systems” than
most other drafting systems, from various trusts to family limited
partnerships to a comprehensive charitable system that even features
private foundations.
WealthCounsel membership includes discussion lists (including a
public one with 1,800 participants, which is also free to non-members),
continuing education, and an impressive knowledge base. Notably,
Louis Mezzullo and Natalie Choate respectively added a buy-sell
component and a retirement planning component to WealthDocs' latest
version 6.1 update; both of these additions are still in a testing
mode, however, and will probably be finalized in the first quarter
of this year. Brian Albee, who debuted his TrustDocs drafting system
last year at the Heckerling Institute, joined WealthCounsel as their
technology director in the fall of 2004. Mr. Albee is designing
a trust funding system to be released by WealthCounsel this year.
WealthCounsel still offers two payment options based on their website:
(b) a $3,900 initial payment plus $390 per month for twelve months;
or (c) $7,900 paid in full for the first year. However, please check
with the WealthCounsel booth for special Heckerling Institute pricing.
Also, note that this pricing is about to increase if it has not
already.
WealthCounsel will again sponsor a post-Heckerling session, called
"Putting Heckerling into Practice," to discuss topics
and techniques presented at this year’s Institute. Mr. Mezzullo
will moderate this year's session. WealthCounsel costs more than
other drafting systems, but you obviously receive additional services
such as these types of post-program sessions and timely updates.
You should remember that pricing is only one factor to consider
in selecting a drafting system.
5. Wealth Transfer Planning by InterActive Legal Systems
(<http://www.ilsdocs.com/>
http://www.ilsdocs.com): Jonathan G. Blattmachr, a distinguished
estate planning attorney at the international law firm of Milbank,
Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, LLP in New York and well-known author,
originally authored his Wealth Transfer Planning program. Wealth
Transfer Planning, a “what-you-see-is-what-you-get”
program, is now co-authored by Michael L. Graham of Dallas, Texas.
Wealth Transfer Planning offers (1) numerous modules, which are
similar in breadth of scope to WealthDocs' "practice systems"
(above), (2) polished language, and (3) built-in legal knowledge
dialogues, which guide you through the decision-making process in
drafting a document. Major news regarding Wealth Transfer Planning
was announced in late 2004. Wealth Transfer Planning intends to
convert to the popular HotDocs engine/platform (below). The official
release of this new Version 3.0 is anticipated in early 2005. The
beta version that is being shown at Heckerling is pretty slick and
offers a lot of promise for significant functional improvements.This
will address complaints from some users regarding the stability
of Wealth Transfer Planning's programming, and will also make Wealth
Transfer Planning another worthwhile option for those who want to
migrate data to the HotDocs system.
Last year, Wealth Transfer Planning added a moderated discussion
list, similar to the WealthDocs discussion list for its members
(below). Wealth Transfer Planning still currently costs $2,995 for
a single-user license according to the InterActive Legal Systems
website, but it is scheduled to go up to 3,995 with the release
of the new HotDocs Version 3.
6. WinDraft/EP Expert (TM)
(<http://www.lawtech.com/WINDRAFT/EPEXPERT/>
http://www.lawtech.com/WINDRAFT/EPEXPERT/):
EP Expert uses an underlying engine, WinDraft, to produce documents.
The WinDraft/EP Expert system represents one of the only notable
options still available to create a "do-it-yourself" drafting
system due to the end of support for Data Tech Software's ThinkDOCS
drafting system. In other words, you can basically build your own
document assembly system with your own forms using WinDraft/EP Expert.
WinDraft/EP Expert has several unique features, including an outline
checklist interface to answer all applicable questions quickly and
then produce a whole set of documents for both spouses. It then
can automatically save each document in DOCS Open or iManage, and
fill out each profile with names and descriptions. A particularly
useful feature is the “drag-and-drop” interface, which
lets a user enter contact information just once for husband, wife,
children, and fiduciaries, and then drag-and-drop each person into
various roles for the client’s documents, e.g., associating
a person with a fiduciary role such as trustee or personal representative,
or designating the person as a beneficiary. This program also works
with DOCS Open or iManage document assembly software.
A number of large firms use WinDraft/EP Expert to produce their
custom forms based on their own language. Smaller firms can implement
WinDraft/EP Expert as well. WinDraft costs $495 for a 5-user license,
and EP Expert, the estate planning module, costs $4,500. However,
for Heckerling Institute attendees, WinDraft/EP Expert is being
offered at half-price
($2,497.50) according to company representative Dan Marcum (<mailto:dan@lawtech.com>dan@lawtech.com).
7. HotDocs (R) by LexisNexis (R): LexisNexis recently announced
the release of HotDocs version 2005 (the seventh version of HotDocs).
HotDocs 2005 includes several important new features: (a) integrated
database connection, (b) integrated document comparison of HotDocs-generated
documents when answers have changed, (c) integrated Microsoft (R)
Outlook
(R) connection, (d) the ability to view variables in the assembled
document at the "Document Preview" tab, and (e) the ability
to jump from a variable in an assembled document to the place where
it is asked in the HotDocs interview and vice versa. Please note
that most, if not all, of these features are not available for Corel's
WordPerfect (R) due to (a) a critical technical feature that allows
one application to drive another, which is not present in WordPerfect,
and (b) the lack of a useful display engine for WordPerfect documents.
HotDocs is still working to overcome these obstacles regarding WordPerfect.
Another significant feature in HotDocs 2005 is the ability to publish
templates for use with HotDocs 2005 Server, which is the server-based,
interview-in-a-browser version of HotDocs (a vast improvement over
HotDocs Online version 6, with a friendly browser interface that
mirrors the desktop interface). Foundational to the new features,
HotDocs allows you to program all types of variables in order to
automate your own (or another's) documents. The American Bar Association's
HOT DOCS IN ONE HOUR FOR LAWYERS (2d ed. 2002), written by Bruce
W. Miller and available via the ABA website:
<http://www.ababooks.org>http://www.ababooks.org.
C. TRUST ACCOUNTING & RELATED ADMINISTRATION SOFTWARE:
1. BNA (<http://www.bna.com/>
http://www.bna.com): BNA
(<http://www.bnasoftware.com/>
http://www.bnasoftware.com) offers two automated systems: an updated
706 program that already incorporates the increased applicable exclusion
amount and a newly-updated 709 program. The
709 program now allows you to move gifts easily within the return
by highlighting and “right-clicking” on the particular
gift that you want to move to a different part of the return. Navigation
within the 709 is also improved. “Demo” versions for
both products are available at the BNA booth.
2. EstateWorks (<http://www.estateworks.com/>
http://www.estateworks.com):
EstateWorks is a web-based system that tracks and assists with the
preparation of estate administration matters. Users can “click”
through any part of the program and can see at a glance the status
of cases and a checklist for each case. EstateWorks generates documents
and merges data into word processing files and other formats.
3. FASTER Systems, LLC
(<http://www.fastersystems.com/>
http://www.fastersystems.com): FASTER software offers a single-entry
system for fiduciary accounting. Note that the FASTER operating
environment is based on the ASP or Application Service Provider
model. This means FASTER provided its software through an online-hosted
environment. While it offers certain efficiencies, this may or may
not be the sort of working environment that will best meet your
needs and those of your clients.
4. Financial Data Service, Inc.
(<http://www.financialdata.com/>
http://www.financialdata.com): This program produces the 706 and
709 transfer tax returns, as well as probate reports and other items.
5. Heritance System (TM) and Quick & Easy (TM) by DataTech
SoftWare, Inc.:
DataTech’s Quick & Easy
(<http://www.quickandeasy.com/>
http://www.quickandeasy.com) (tax
preparation) now offers a complete suite of estate administration
tools called Heritance System (<http://www.heritancesystem.com/>
http://www.heritancesystem.com). You may also purchase individual
tax and fiduciary administration modules from the main Quick &
Easy website. The jury is still out as to how effectively DataTech
has integrated it's Quick & Easy forms into its new Heritance
environment, let alone how complete and robust their estate administration
and tax forms really are, so a beta test of this system in your
own offices is highly recommended.
6. The Lackner Group, Inc.
(<http://www.lacknergroup.com/>
http://www.lacknergroup.com): The Lackner Group, Inc. has consistently
offered a single-entry estate administration program known as the
6-in-1 Estate Administration System. This system produces the 706,
1041, the accounting and inventory for the estate administration,
and relevant state tax forms as well. The 6-in-1 Estate Administration
System is a Windows- or Mac-based system that includes the latest
tax preparation forms. The Lackner modules are priced separately
and are very affordable. This system has been around virtually since
the beginning of the development of fiduciary accounting software
under the able leadership of Vince Lackner, which speaks highly
for its stability and completeness, and is well worth serious consideration
by anyone who is looking for a new system or to replace an existing
one (such as the West FAS and ProBate FAS, both of which have gone
out of business in the last year or so).
D. APPRAISAL & VALUATION SOFTWARE:
1. Estate Valuations & Pricing (EVP) Systems, Inc.
(<http://www.evpsystems.com/>
http://www.evpsystems.com): EVP has released an updated version
(as of July 25, 2004) of its superb stock and bond valuation software.
Existing users are urged to upgrade to the current version due to
market changed that occurred with the Regan funeral week. This company
continues to improve this product, and it is linked to every popular
fiduciary accounting program we are aware of. In addition, it is
still the primary on-line source for values for the IRS. It's newest
Version 7.04 comes with a new interface and drop down menus, and
soon to be released Version 7.1 will allow for the valuation of
foreign securities.
2. Other appraisal and valuation vendors abound, and will be included
later as time permits.
E. RESEARCH SOFTWARE, SERVICES & RESOURCES:
1. American Bar Association (ABA)
(<http://www.abanet.org>
http://www.abanet.org & http://www.ababooks.org) & ABA Section
of Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law (RPPT)
(<http://www.abanet.org/rppt/>
http://www.abanet.org/rppt/): The ABA offers some of the best practice
resources available to lawyers and particularly to estate planning
(trusts and estates) lawyers. For example, by joining the RPPT Section,
you receive electronic access to the current issues and archives
of Probate & Property magazine and the REAL PROPERTY, PROBATE
& TRUST JOURNAL; both archives are browsable and searchable.
You also receive discounts on the numerous treatises published by
the ABA for estate planning lawyers.
2. BNA (<http://www.bna.com/>
http://www.bna.com): As most of you know, BNA offers excellent research
tools, including the well-known Tax Management Portfolios (one of
my favorite research tools) (<http://www.bnatax.com/tm/tmil.htm>
http://www.bnatax.com/tm/tmil.htm). A “demo” is available
on the BNA website (<http://www.bnatax.com/tm/tmil.htm>
http://www.bnatax.com/tm/tmil.htm).
3. CCH (<http://tax.cchgroup.com>
http://tax.cchgroup.com): CCH also offers excellent tax and estate
planning research tools.
4. LexisNexis (R) (<http://www.lexis.com/>
http://www.lexis.com): Lexis features numerous estate planning titles
in its Tax Law Library, including the University of Miami Philip
E. Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning materials. You may also
purchase the presentation materials on CD-ROM again this year.
5. Thomson/West (TM) (<http://west.thomson.com/>
http://west.thomson.com):
West offers a number of estate planning research tools as well.
6. Trusts & Estates
(<http://www.trustsandestates.com>
http://www.trustsandestates.com)
Magazine: Trusts & Estates, known as "The Journal of Wealth
Management for Estate Planning Professionals -- Since 1904,"
is an excellent resource. As announced last year in the final report
(Report 15 of 2004), Trusts & Estates now offers online access
to its issues published over the last ten years or so. The online
archives include text, rich text with images, or portable document
format (PDF) versions of various articles, depending on availability;
most of the newer articles are available in all formats. The search
feature could be improved a bit and the PDF files could be published
with a product like Adobe (R) Acrobat's Distiller program so that
they are searchable on your own drive or network, but overall this
is a tremendous value. Pricing is $199 for a one-year subscription
or $299 for two years based on the Trusts & Estates website;
however, you can find excellent discounts if you are a member of
a member council of the National Association of Estate Planners
and Councils (NAEPC) (<http://www.naepc.org/member_services.web>http://www.naepc.org/member_services.web),
which offers a substantial discount on subscriptions as an "affinity"
partner. (WealthCounsel used to offer a similar discount, but I
do not see it anymore:
<http://www.wealthcounsel.com/memberspecials.aspx>
http://www.wealthcounsel.com/memberspecials.aspx.)
F. MISCELLANEOUS VENDORS:
1. Connect2A.com (<http://www.connect2a.com/>
http://www.connect2a.com):
Connect2A.com allows estate planning professionals to track their
clients’
assets and estate planning techniques via an Internet-based service
that is encrypted and more secure than almost all private law firms’
internal servers. Connect2A offers excellent training, from their
Internet-based presentations powered by WebEx technology (<http://www.connect2a.com/C2Ademo.html>
http://www.connect2a.com/C2Ademo.html),
which cover basic aspects of Connect2A, setting up trust information
in Connect2A, and the trust funding process of Connect2A, to their
in-depth training sessions for the estate planning team. One of
the most attractive aspects of Connect2A’s service is the
ability to track asset and beneficiary changes during the trust
funding process. Connect2A’s system is also compatible with
HotDocs and thus is compatible with other programs (above).
Connect2A has released several new features including their encrypted
communication system, a document storage/sharing service called
Document Connect (TM), additional access for guest members and guest
clients, and more administrative abilities to add new members. Some
of these services incur additional costs depending on the level
of additional usage. The primary Connect2A service still costs $60
per month, billed quarterly, based on their website.
2. The Capital Trust Company of Delaware
(<http://www.ctcdelaware.com/>
http://www.ctcdelaware.com): As many of you know, the Capital Trust
Company of Delaware’s site has been one of my favorites for
a long time. It includes many useful Adobe Acrobat one-page summaries
on basic and advanced estate planning techniques, which are excellent
when explaining a concept to a client who would prefer a picture.
Presentations are also available, as well as sample forms and provisions
and extensive information on the application of Delaware law. Most
of the mentioned materials are located in the “Personal Trust
Services” area under the “Trusts” heading on the
top navigation bar.
Registration is no longer required to access these materials. Visitors
may still register for a free e-newsletter, however, which contains
planning discussions and recommendations from some of the helpful
Capital Trust Company of Delaware team members.
3. Foundation Source (R)
(<http://www.foundationsources.com/>
http://www.foundationsources.com):
Foundation Source offers administration services for private foundations.
These services include maintenance of governing documents, tax filings,
and grant processing and compliance. Investment services are not
included and are not intended in the scope of the offered services.
4. Schumaker Publishing, Inc.
(<http://www.estateplanning.com>
http://www.estateplanning.com): This company markets packaged websites
for estate planning attorneys.
_________________________________________
Our on-site local reporters who are present in Miami this year are
Gene Zuspann Esq. of Zuspann & Zuspann in Denver, Colorado,
Shelly Merritt Esq., a solo practitioner in Boulder, Colorado, Connie
T. Eyster Esq. of Hutchinson, Black & Cook LLC in Boulder, Colorado,
Jason Havens Esq. of Havens & Miller PLLC in Dustin, Florida,
Bruce Stone of Goldman, Felcoski & Stone, PA of Coral Gables,
Florida, Herbert L. Braverman Esq. of Walter & Haverfield LLP
in Cleveland, Ohio, and Jeffry L. Weiler of Benesch, Friedlander,
Coplan & Aronoff LLP of Cleveland, Ohio. The editor again this
year will be Joseph G. Hodges Jr. Esq, a solo practitioner in Denver,
Colorado who is the Chief Moderator of the ABA-PTL List.
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT INSTITUTE
Inquiries/Registration
Philip E. Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning University of
Miami School of Law Center for Continuing Legal Education P.O. Box
248087 Coral Gables, FL 33124-8087
Telephone305-284-4762 / FAX305-284-6752
Web site www.law.miami.edu/heckerling
E-mail heckerling@law.miami.edu
===========================================
Headquarters Hotel - Fontainebleau Hilton
4441 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33140
Telephone (305) 538-2000, FAX (305) 674-4607 ==================================================
NOTICE: Although audio tapes of all of the substantive session at
the Miami Institute currently are only made available to Institute
registrants for purchase, the entire proceeding of the Institute
are published annually by Lexis/Nexis. For further information,
go to their Web site at http//www.lexisnexis.com/productsandservices.
The text of these proceedings is also available on CD ROM from Authority
On-Demand by LexisNexis Matthew Bender. For further information,
contact your sales representative, or call (800) 833- 9844, or fax
(518) 487-3584, or go to http//www.bender.com, or write to Matthew
Bender & Co., Inc., Attn. Order Fulfillment Dept.,
1275 Broadway, Albany, NY 12204. Note that Special Session, workshop
and fundamentals program materials are not published.
______________________________________________________
Brought to you by the ABA-PTL Discussion List Moderators URL for
ABA-PTL searchable Web-based Archives http//mail.abanet.org/archives/aba-ptl.html
To search the ABA-PTL archives online or manage your subscription,
go to
http://mail.abanet.org/archives/aba-ptl.html
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