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Phone: Connecticut: (203) 592-0878; Florida: (561) 594-0039
Seminars
Helpful Information
These 45 minute presentations focus on various estate planning and probate topics. All are directed to the general public in easy to understand language. Questions from the audience are welcome during and after each presentation.
Call (203) 592-0878 or complete the contact form on this website to schedule any presentation for your group or organization. Presentations are always informational, free of charge and non promotional.
Livings Trusts: Myth versus Reality
Living trusts are one of the most versatile estate planning tools available. Unfortunately, unscrupulous purveyors of "one size fits all" living trust products often make misleading claims to sell their questionable (and sometimes useless) products. Domenick Calabrese, Judge of the Region 22 Probate District and Administrative Judge of the Waterbury Regional Children's Court will carefully review some of the myths of living trusts and share the reality of what may and may not be accomplished with living trusts. Judge Calabrese will answer questions from the audience in this informal discussion.
Call (203) 592-0878 or complete the contact form on this website to schedule this presentation for your group or organization. Presentations are always informational, free of charge and non promotional.
Beware! POAs, Trusts and Liability
It's common for people to serve as an agent under a power of attorney, trustee of a trust, or any of a number of other fiduciary roles. Unfortunately, acting under this kind of authority is fraught with civil and even potential criminal liability. Particularly for those who choose to not retain legal counsel at the start, the consequences of exceeding their authority or engaging in conflicts of interest create legal quagmires that may involve court proceedings and even protracted litigation.
In this presentation, Domenick Calabrese, Judge of the Region 22 Probate District and Administrative Judge of the Waterbury Regional Children's Court will review the role of agents under powers of attorney, trustees, administrators, guardians, executors and conservators. The presentation will include things that should be avoided by fiduciaries, why legal counsel is necessary, and how to choose an attorney.
Call (203) 592-0878 or complete the contact form on this website to schedule this presentation for your group or organization. Presentations are always informational, free of charge and non promotional.
Estate Taxes
Both Connecticut and the federal government have radically altered the estate tax effective January 1, 2018. Estate tax is complex; rates and exemptions can be drastically different from one year to another. Judge Domenick Calabrese of the Region 22 Probate District reviews Connecticut and federal estate taxes, outlining exemptions, the marital deduction, persons subject to estate tax, property subject to estate tax, and tax rates.
Call (203) 592-0878 or complete the contact form on this website to schedule this presentation for your group or organization. Presentations are always informational, free of charge and non promotional.
Probate: Myths, Misconceptions and Mistakes
This 2-part seminar examines issues such as ownership of motor vehicles, real property owned in survivorship, need for a will, out of state real property, interest in limited liability companies, burial and funeral arrangements in wills, failure to name beneficiaries for life insurance and retirement accounts, probate fees, “avoiding” probate, and failure to fund a living trust. Judge Calabrese reviews the consequences to heirs and beneficiaries and the implications for probate proceedings.
Call (203) 592-0878 or complete the contact form on this website to schedule this presentation for your group or organization. Presentations are always informational, free of charge and non promotional.
Asset Protection
Judge Calabrese dispels common misperceptions of asset protection. He succinctly describes the goals of asset protection, how it works, and why most people - not only the very wealthy - can benefit from an asset protection plan. Judge Calabrese also reviews the context of asset protection relative to creditor claims, highlights a select group of common asset protection tools, and provides an example of different approaches to protect a specific asset.
Call (203) 592-0878 or complete the contact form on this website to schedule this presentation for your group or organization. Presentations are always informational, free of charge and non promotional.
Seminars
Incapacity, Conservatorships and the Probate Court
While many people plan for the transfer of assets at death by creating wills, few are aware of the options and importance of planning for legal incapacity. Legal incapacity can occur suddenly and unexpectedly. Wills have no utility during the will creator’s lifetime, including when they become incapacitated. The ability to deal with the incapacitated person’s financial and personal affairs may require court intervention. Planning for incapacity can minimize the stress and uncertainty families face when a loved one becomes incapacitated.
Connecticut probate courts deal with issues of incapacity regularly with guardianships, conservatorships, and commitments. Judge Calabrese discusses legal incapacity, the role of the probate court, conservatorships, and legal tools to plan for incapacity. He also answers questions from the audience on the topic.
Call (203) 592-0878 or complete the contact form on this website to schedule any presentation for your group
The New Connecticut Uniform Power of Attorney Act
In both 2016 and 2017 Connecticut passed the most significant changes to powers of attorney in over a decade. In this presentation, Judge Calabrese discusses those changes, and how powers of attorney can be used as part of a plan for incapacity. Areas covered include new fiduciary powers, third party recognition of powers of attorney, shortcomings and advantages of powers of attorney.
Call (203) 592-0878 or complete the contact form on this website to schedule any presentation for your group.
Estate Planning
In this free seminar, Judge Calabrese discusses the purposes of estate planning, including asset management, transferring assets during life and after death, estate tax planning, and planning for incapacity. He also examines how wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance healthcare directives, and designations of conservator may be used to create a comprehensive estate plan.
Call (203) 592-0878 or complete the contact form on this website to schedule any presentation for your group.
Probate: Myths, Misconceptions and Mistakes
This 2-part seminar examines issues such as ownership of motor vehicles, real property owned in survivorship, need for a will, out of state real property, interest in limited liability companies, burial and funeral arrangements in wills, failure to name beneficiaries for life insurance and retirement accounts, probate fees, “avoiding” probate, and failure to fund a living trust. Judge Calabrese reviews the consequences to heirs and beneficiaries and the implications for probate proceedings.
Call (203) 592-0878 or complete the contact form on this website to schedule any presentation for your group