Crystal Tea Room
This annual update discusses important cases in estate law over the last 12 months.
Obadiah G. English, Esq. & C. Thomas Work, Esq.

East/West Conference Rooms
Although grantor trusts have been the principal chassis for most estate planning in recent years, all practitioners and their clients ultimately will phase non-grantor trust, at least upon death if not during lifetime. Although non-grantor trust fees the highest federal income tax rates at only about $14, 000 and income, there are several ways in which the income tax on trust income can be reduced. In fact, a carefully crafted discretionary trust may provide an opportunity to reduce income taxes to a bare minimum. This presentation will go through the benefits of non-grantor trust and how virtually all trusts should be structured.
Jonathan A. Blattmachr, Esq.

Preparing the PA Inheritance Tax Return
East Conference Room
Start to finish guidance on preparing the REV-1500 will be provided. Learn what to attach and how to write asset and expense descriptions. Audience questions will be encouraged.
Vicky Ann Trimmer, Esq.

Electronic Wills: Past, Present (and Future?)
West Conference Room
Several states have adopted statutes authorizing the electronic execution and virtual witnesses of wills. Pennsylvania is not one of them, but attempts have been made to probate electronic wills with inconsistent results. As the use of electronic signature and virtual meeting technology becomes commonplace, that trend will likely continue. This program will touch upon the current status of the law in Pennsylvania regarding electronic wills and virtual signatures and witnessing. We will also explore some of the concepts that will likely come into play if the legislature chooses to adopt electronic wills legislation or legislation generally authorizing the electronic execution of other estate planning documents such as wills, trusts, and powers of attorney.
Justin H. Brown, Esq., Karen (Kim) A. Fahrner, Esq., and Eric R. Strauss, Esq.

New Developments in Insurance Funded Stock Redemption Agreements
PBI Room
Given the very different conclusions reached by the 11th Circuit in the Blount case and the 8th Circuit in the case of Connelly v. United States, if it is not feasible for shareholders to have a cross-purchase agreement, having an insurance-funded stock-redemption agreement may present a valuation challenge. The larger exemptions now applicable under the estate tax law may insulate many owners of closely held businesses from valuation concerns. However, those owners of corporations who are concerned about estate tax planning should seek the advice of qualified appraisers and attorneys to structure a buy-sell agreement and a business appraisal that takes into account insurance funding if a stock-redemption format is the owners’ preference.
Dennis C. Reardon, Esq., & Michael F. Rogers, Esq.

Non-Profits and the Charitable-Minded Client: When and How to Involve the Attorney General’s Office
East Conference Room
This program will summarize the statutory authority, common law, and rules by which the Attorney General’s Office through its Charitable Trusts and Organizations Section becomes involved in charitable bequests, fundamental change transactions and improper conduct of non-profits. The presenters will walk you through what forms and information to provide to the OAG when your matter involves a charitable bequest, or a trust with a charitable interest. They will discuss how to deal with a nonprofit merger or dissolution or a situation in which a nonprofit organization has behaved badly. They will also discuss differences between establishing your client’s proposed foundation as a trust or as a nonprofit corporation, particularly given new rules affecting nonprofit corporations. A must if you want to efficiently administer your charitable estate or trust or counsel your non-profit corporation on state law issues.
Donald W. Kramer, Esq. & Rosalind M. Karlin, Esq.

411 on 911: POLST, Healthcare POAs, & Living Wills
West Conference Room
This program will review the importance of HCPOAs, living wills, and POLST orders as decision-making tools in the event of temporary or permanent incapacity. The panel will address the roles of healthcare representatives and healthcare agents, and key considerations in drafting living wills. The panel will discuss the use of healthcare powers of attorneys as a tool to reinforce supported decision-making arrangements and review recent revisions to the Uniform Healthcare Decisions Act.
Grace W. Orsatti, Esq. & Lisa A. Shearman, Esq.

The Tale of the 4 Exemptions
PBI Room
This session discusses the intersection of four of the exemptions that practitioners use in estate planning: the income producing property exemption for Medicaid purposes, the family business exemption for Pennsylvania inheritance tax purposes, and the two agricultural exemptions for Pennsylvania inheritance tax purposes. What are the requirements for each exemption? How can practitioners maximize the exemptions for the interests of their clients?
Dana M. Breslin, Esq., CELA & Samantha K.Wolfe, Esq.

Is Your Estate Plan SECURE? Estate Planning with Retirement Assets Following the SECURE Act 1.0 and 2.0
East Conference Room
Since January 1, 2020, there have been sweeping changes to the rules governing retirement assets (IRAs, 401(k)s, Roth accounts, etc.). This program will be a comprehensive review regarding what estate planners should know regarding planning with retirement assets under The SECURE Act 1.0 and The SECURE Act 2.0, as well as the draft regulations. This will include a review of the new rules, a comparison to the prior rules and a discussion of best practices in light of the new laws.
Peter E. Moshang, Esq.

Scaife & the Fiduciary Exception to the Attorney-Client Privilege in Pennsylvania
West Conference Room
An overview of law in Pennsylvania relating to the attorney-client privilege and the application and impact of the fiduciary exception.
Rebecca L. Hagan, Esq. & Richard L. Holzworth, Esq.

Proceed with Caution! The Complexities of Administering Charitable Trusts
PBI Room
The administration of charitable trusts requires an understanding of complex issues not as common to the administration of personal trusts.  From understanding the intricacies of the private foundation rules and other tax laws applicable to exempt organizations, the role and oversight of the Office of Attorney General, the application of Cy Pres, and managing the expectations of charitable beneficiaries, learn the key concepts of how to effectively administer this type of trusts.
Alison T. Smith, Esq.

Planning for Special Needs Beneficiaries with Retirement Assets
East Conference Room
The effect of Secure Acts 1.0 and 2.0 and the proposed regulations have greatly enhanced the ability to effectively leave qualified retirements assets in trust for beneficiaries who are disabled or chronically ill, to take required minimum distributions over the lifetime of the disabled or chronically ill beneficiary regardless of the identity of the remainder beneficiary, while still allowing the disabled or chronically ill beneficiary to maintain important public benefit qualifications. At the same time, Secure Acts 1.0 and 2.0 generally reduced the potential distribution period for non-spouse beneficiaries, making these particular assets especially attractive to allocate to a trust for a disabled or chronically ill beneficiary.
Thomas O. Hiscott, Esq. & Brittany Camp, Esq.

Navigating The Ethical Challenges in an Estate Planning Practice
West Conference Room
The practical application of the Rules of Professional Conduct during the life cycle of the representation of an estate planning client: From the initial marketing effort to termination.
Paul C. Heintz, Esq.

Who Owns What When – The Multiple Party Accounts Act
PBI Room
This session provides an overview of the Multiple Party Accounts Act, 20 Pa. C.S.A. §§ 6301- et seq., which governs questions of ownership and disposition with respect to certain financial and bank accounts with two or more owners, as interpreted and applied by the Orphans’ Courts and Appellate Courts of the Commonwealth.
John F. Higgins, Esq.