The Atlanta Lawyer January/February 2015 | Page 28

section update Estate Planning & Probate Section By Roger Kirschenbaum Roger Kirschenbaum, PC [email protected] T he Estate Planning and Probate Section looks to start 2015 with continued events that fulfill the Section’s purpose of supporting our members in the areas of estate planning, probate, guardianships and conservatorships, and by serving the public interest and the judiciary, and by promoting high professional and ethical standards for our members. Many of the Section members can reflect on the changes in our practices over the past two (2) years. In the estate planning side of the practice we have seen tax driven estate planning change. After the 2001 Tax Act we spent over a decade dealing with changing rules and uncertainty, and during that time education on the tax side was often a focus. With the 2012 Tax Act we gained some degree of certainty (tax law is just never “certain”) and we are still adjusting to these changes. The Section still has its share of tax planning education on an annual basis. We scheduled our annual update luncheon with Professor Pennell of Emory, have sponsored the annual Forum with Diversified Trust – this year with Clary Redd, and anticipate the March 2015 presentation by Sam Donaldson of Georgia State at the monthly Section breakfast. hear from Johannes S. Kingsma, presenting A Conversation with Malpractice Defense Attorney, Beyond the Engagement Letter – Things Every Estate Planning & Probate Attorney Should Know. I repeat my reminder that there are at least two (2) social events on the calendar between February and May. Along with the Elder Law Section and the Tax Section there will be a social with the Financial Planners Association on February 19, 2015 at Gordon Biersch in Buckhead. On May 7, 2015 we will return to Gordon Biersch for a social event with the Family Law Section. In the last issue I also mentioned our Section’s dedicated support of the Probate Information Centers (PIC) for the Probate Court of Fulton County and the Probate Court of Dekalb County. I am thrilled to report that our members filled the signup sheets for both so all scheduled dates are covered. This is such a valuable support to the court system and fulfilling experience for those who volunteer. The Section, however, continues to recognize the service we provide to clients and the community is often not tax driven. A review of the breakfast topics from June through December, as well as the planned topics for the remainder of the fiscal year reflect this scope. In January 2015 we heard from UGA Associate Professor Law, Lisa Milot, presenting Planning for the Disposition of Frozen Eggs, Sperm, and Embryos; and Addre 76