Corrections and Additions to
Wills,
Trusts, and Technology
An Estate Lawyer's
Guide to Automation, Second Edition
By Daniel
B. Evans
Copyright © 1997-2007 Daniel B. Evans. All rights reserved.
Last updated: 10/25/2007
The following is a list that both supplements and replaces Appendix A of the second edition of Wills, Trusts, and Technology.
The following programs can illustrate one or more estate planning strategies and recommendations, both through tax and financial calculations and projections and through charts and graphs. The capabilities of the programs vary greatly, but the tax calculations and strategies might include marital deduction decisions, lifetime giving, life insurance recommendations, tax elections for business interests, generation-skipping taxes, state death taxes, and charitable split-interest trusts.
|
Program(s) |
Publisher |
Telephone# |
Web Site URL |
|---|---|---|---|
|
BNA Estate & Gift Tax Planner |
BNA Software |
(800) 372-1033 |
|
|
Crescendo Estate |
Crescendo Software (Comdel, Inc.) |
(800) 858-9154 |
|
|
ES: The Estate Plan Analyzer |
Superior Software, Inc. |
(800) 421-3264 |
|
|
Estate Planning Tools; |
Brentmark Software |
(800) 879-6665 |
|
|
Intutive Estate Planner; |
Thomson - West |
(800) 328-4880 |
|
|
Leimberg's Estate Planning QuickView; |
Leimberg & LeClair, Inc. |
(610) 924-0515 |
|
|
TrustWise |
OSI Software |
(800) 650-4334 |
|
|
ViewPlan |
CCH Incorporated |
(800) 835-5224 |
|
|
Zcalc |
Thomson – Fast-Tax |
(800) 331-2533 |
The following programs were designed to illustrate the advantages of charitable giving, either lifetime or testamentary, usually through split-interest trusts (charitable remainder trusts or charitable lead trusts).
|
Program(s) |
Publisher |
Telephone# |
Web Site URL |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Charitable Financial Planner |
Brentmark Software |
(800) 879-6665 |
|
|
Crescendo Pro |
Crescendo Software (Comdel, Inc.) |
(800) 858-9154 |
|
|
NumberCruncher |
Leimberg & LeClair, Inc. |
(610) 924-0515 |
|
|
PhilanthroCalc |
PhilanthroTec |
(800) 332-7832 |
|
|
Planned Giving Manager |
PG Calc Inc. |
(888) 497-4970 |
|
|
Tiger Tables |
Tiger Tables Software |
(314) 552-6187 |
|
|
ViewPlan |
CCH Incorporated |
(800) 835-5224 |
Some special programs are available that will calculate taxes on retirement benefits and the different planning options available for retirement plan benefits.
|
Program(s) |
Publisher |
Telephone# |
Web Site URL |
|---|---|---|---|
|
NumberCruncher |
Leimberg & LeClair, Inc. |
(610) 924-0515 |
|
|
PenD'Calc |
PenD'Calc Corporation |
(800) 766-7327 |
|
|
Pension & Roth IRA Analyzer; |
Brentmark Software |
(800) 879-6665 |
There are a variety of programs available that perform specific calculations that are useful in estate planning or estate administrations, such as actuarial valuations under I.R.C. section 7520, calculations of interest (or penalties) on underpayments of tax, and similar problems.
|
Program(s) |
Publisher |
Telephone# |
Web Site URL |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Estate Planning Tools |
Brentmark Software |
(800) 879-6665 |
|
|
Inter-Est |
Cammack Computations Co. |
(800) 594-5826 |
|
|
NumberCruncher |
Leimberg & LeClair, Inc. |
(610) 924-0515 |
|
|
Tiger Tables |
Tiger Tables Software |
(314) 552-6187 |
|
|
Zcalc |
Thomson – Fast-Tax |
(800) 331-2533 |
Most of the programs listed below have been designed to generate wills or revocable trusts that comply with the laws of most states, although some of the programs were specifically designed with certain states in mind. Some of the programs will generate other documents (such as durable powers of attorney), and some of the programs are document drafting "engines" or "shells" which are for lawyers to use in automating their own forms.
|
Program(s) |
Publisher |
Telephone# |
Web Site URL |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Automated Wills |
Korbitec Holdings Inc. |
(905) 286-1888 |
|
|
DL: Drafting Libraries |
Attorney's Computer Network, Inc. |
(610) 347-1500 |
|
|
Drafting Wills and Trust Agreements on GhostFill |
Thomson - West |
(800) 328-4880 |
|
|
Estate Planning, Wills and Living Trusts |
Ruth Technology Corporation |
(800) 350-8262 |
|
|
Estates and Trusts Forms Manual |
Knowles Publishing Inc. |
(800) 299-0202 |
|
|
LexisNexis Automated Forms (various states) |
Lexis Publishing |
(800) 223-1940 |
|
|
ProDoc Will Forms |
Automated Legal Systems, Inc. |
(800) 759-5418 |
|
|
Trust Plus |
Cowles Legal Systems |
(800) 366-1730 |
|
|
Wealth Transfer Planning |
Interactive Legal Systems |
(888) 315-0872 |
|
|
Wills & Trusts (Selected States) |
Lawgic Publishing |
(877) 252-9442 |
The following programs are document drafting "engines" or "shells" which lawyers can use to automate their own forms. Some of these programs may include pre-programmed will and trust forms.
|
Program(s) |
Publisher |
Telephone# |
Web Site URL |
|---|---|---|---|
|
GhostFill |
Korbitec Holdings Inc. |
(905) 286-1888 |
|
|
HotDocs |
Matthew Bender & Co. (Lexis/Nexis Group) |
(800) 500-3627 |
Software to generate petitions for probate, inventories, notices to beneficiaries or creditors, and other local forms are available from some publishers.
|
Program(s) |
Publisher |
Telephone# |
Web Site URL |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lackner Quik PA Probate Forms |
Lackner Group, Inc. |
(800) 709-1041 |
|
|
LexisNexis Automated Forms (various states) |
Lexis Publishing |
(800) 223-1940 |
|
|
ProbatePlus |
EstateWorks |
(978) 461-1200 |
www.estateworks.com |
|
Quick & Easy Automated Legal Forms |
DataTech Software, Inc. |
(800) 556-7526 |
|
|
West's Desktop Practice Systems |
West Group |
(800) 328-9352 |
Some programs have been developed especially to assist in preparing the deeds, assignments, and other documents necessary to fund (and terminate) revocable trusts.
|
Program(s) |
Publisher |
Telephone# |
Web Site URL |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Brentmark Asset Transfer System |
Brentmark Software |
(800) 879-6665 |
|
|
Trust Terminator |
Cowles Legal Systems |
(800) 366-1730 |
The following programs can be used to account for receipts and disbursements during the administration of an estate, as well as generate a fiduciary accounting for filing in court. All of the accountings will comply with the Uniform Fiduciary Accounting Principles adopted by the Committee on National Fiduciary Accounting Standards of the National Center for State Courts, and some will comply with certain local standards as well.
|
Program(s) |
Publisher |
Telephone# |
Web Site URL |
|---|---|---|---|
|
6-in-1 Estate Administration Program |
Lackner Computer Group, Inc. |
(800) 709-1041 |
|
|
Fiduciary Accounting System for Trusts and Estates Reporting (FASTER) |
Faster Systems, LLC |
(508) 347-0195 |
|
|
FPS Accounting |
Thomson - Fast-Tax |
(800) 331-2533 |
|
|
Gillett Estate Management Suite (GEMS) |
Gillett Publishing LLC |
(970) 667-6223 |
|
|
TEdec Fiduciary Accounting System |
TEdec Systems, Inc. |
(800) 345-2154 |
The following software (or on-line services) fall into two areas: software (or services) to value marketable securities, and software to help value closely held businesses.
|
Program(s) |
Publisher |
Telephone# |
Web Site URL |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Advanced Business Valuation |
Essential Software |
(262) 798-8050 |
|
|
Appraise |
Evaluations Services, Inc. |
(888) 374-4706 |
|
|
Business Quick-Plan |
Kettley Publishing |
(800) 777-3162 |
|
|
EPScom |
Clark Boardman Callaghan |
(800) 328-4880 |
|
|
Estate Planning Tools |
Brentmark Software |
(800) 879-6665 |
|
|
EstateVal |
Estate Valuations & Pricing Systems, Inc. |
(800) 237-3440 |
|
|
NumberCruncher |
Leimberg & LeClair, Inc. |
(610) 924-0515 |
|
|
Portfolio Evaluations |
Estates, Evaluations & Estimates |
(800) 597-0239 |
|
|
Value Expert |
Innovative Professional Software, Inc. |
(800) 284-6105 |
|
|
Wallace Historical Securities Pricing |
Financial Data Service, Inc. |
(800) 399-3008 |
The following CD-ROMs can be used to fill-in and print a variety of federal and state tax returns, but the software usually contains no calculations or logic beyond simple addition or subtraction.
|
Program(s) |
Publisher |
Telephone# |
Web Site URL |
|---|---|---|---|
|
E-Form |
RIA |
(800) 950-1216 |
|
|
FormsComplete |
Universal Tax Systems, Inc. |
(800) 755-9473 |
|
|
IRS Federal Tax Forms |
U.S. Government Printing Office |
(800) 829-3676 |
|
|
MAX; ZillionForms |
ATX II, LLC |
(877) 728-9776 |
|
|
SuperForm |
STF Services |
(800) 541-7197 |
The following programs go beyond simple fill-in-the-blanks and can perform a variety of tax calculations, such as calculations of the "optimum" marital deduction. Some of these programs are integrated with fiduciary accounting software, and some can prepare state death tax returns as well as the federal Form 706.
|
Program(s) |
Publisher |
Telephone# |
Web Site URL |
|---|---|---|---|
|
BNA 706 Preparer |
BNA Software |
(800) 372-1033 |
|
|
Fiduciary Accounting System for Trusts and Estates Reporting (FASTER) |
Faster Systems, LLC |
(508) 347-0195 |
|
|
FormsExpert 706 |
Universal Tax Systems, Inc. |
(800) 755-9473 |
|
|
FPS 706 |
Thomson - Fast-Tax |
(800) 331-2533 |
|
|
Gillett Estate Management Suite (GEMS) |
Gillett Publishing LLC |
(970) 667-6223 |
|
|
Quick and Easy Estate Practice |
DataTech Software, Inc. |
(800) 556-7526 |
|
|
Quik 706; |
Lackner Computer Group, Inc. |
(800) 709-1041 |
|
|
TEdec Fiduciary Accounting System |
TEdec Systems, Inc. |
(800) 345-2154 |
These programs are specifically designed for federal gift tax return preparation.
|
Program(s) |
Publisher |
Telephone# |
Web Site URL |
|---|---|---|---|
|
BNA 709 Preparer |
BNA Software |
(800) 372-1033 |
|
|
FormsExpert 709 |
Universal Tax Systems, Inc. |
(800) 755-9473 |
|
|
FPS 709 |
Thomson - Fast-Tax |
(800) 331-2533 |
|
|
Gillett Estate Management Suite (GEMS) |
Gillett Publishing LLC |
(970) 667-6223 |
|
|
Quick and Easy Estate Practice |
DataTech Software, Inc. |
(800) 556-7526 |
|
|
Quik 709 |
Lackner Computer Group, Inc. |
(800) 709-1041 |
The following programs go beyond simple fill-in-the-blanks and can perform a variety of tax calculations, such as allocations of distributable net income among beneficiaries. Some of these programs are integrated with fiduciary accounting software, and some can prepare state income tax returns as well as the federal Form 1041.
|
Program(s) |
Publisher |
Telephone# |
Web Site URL |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Fiduciary Accounting System for Trusts and Estates Reporting (FASTER) |
Faster Systems, LLC |
(508) 347-0195 |
|
|
FormsExpert 1041 |
Universal Tax Systems, Inc. |
(800) 755-9473 |
|
|
FPS 1041 |
Thomson - Fast-Tax |
(800) 331-2533 |
|
|
Lacerte 1041 |
Lacerte Software Corp. |
(800) 765-4065 |
|
|
Quik 1041 |
Lackner Computer Group, Inc. |
(800) 709-1041 |
|
|
TEdec Fiduciary Accounting System |
TEdec Systems, Inc. |
(800) 345-2154 |
(Unless otherwise noted, all products are CD-ROMs.)
The products or services below are designed to provide estate-specific legal research.
|
Program(s) |
Publisher |
Telephone# |
Web Site URL |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Estate and Elder Law Advisor |
West Group |
(800) 762-5272 |
|
|
Estate Planning Advisor |
Research Institute of America |
(800) 950-1216 |
|
|
PD ROM (Practical Drafting) |
U.S. Trust Company of New York |
(800) USTRUST |
The products or services below are designed for tax research.
|
Program(s) |
Publisher |
Telephone# |
Web Site URL |
|---|---|---|---|
|
InfoTax; |
TaxAnalysts |
(800) 955-2444 |
|
|
Kleinrock's Federal Tax Expert |
ATX II LLP |
(877) 728-9776 |
|
|
West CD-ROM Libraries |
West Group |
(800) 328-9352 |
The products or services below are designed for general legal research, and may include materials relevant to estates and taxes.
|
Program(s) |
Publisher |
Telephone# |
Web Site URL |
|---|---|---|---|
|
LOIS.COM (On-line) |
LOIS, Inc. |
(800) 364-2512 |
|
|
West CD-ROM Libraries |
West Group |
(800) 328-9352 |
|
Resource |
Publisher |
Web Site URL |
|---|---|---|
|
Law Practice Management Section |
American Bar Association |
|
|
LawyerWare.com |
Castellain Technologies, LLC |
|
|
Legal Technology Institute |
University of Florida Levin College of Law |
|
|
Legal Technology Primer |
Dennis Kennedy |
|
|
Legal Technology Resource Center |
American Bar Association |
|
|
Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section |
American Bar Association |
|
|
TechnoLawyer Community |
PeerViews, Inc. (managed by Neil J. Squillante) |
|
|
TechShow |
American Bar Association |
Wills, Trusts, and Technology: An Estate Lawyer's Guide to Automation, Second Edition is published jointly by the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law and Law Practice Management Sections of the American Bar Association.
2004 - 264 pages - 7x10 paper
Product code:
5430448
Source code: WEB1234
$89.95 (RPPTL & LPM Section
member price) - $99.95 (Regular price)
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The Pennsylvania Estate and Trust
Cybrary
Daniel B. Evans,
Attorney at Law
P.O. Box 27370
Philadelphia, PA 19118
Telephone: (215) 233-0988
Telecopier: (215) 893-5388
Email:
dan@evans-legal.com
Web:
http://evans-legal.com/dan