ABA GP Solo ELDER LAW COMMITTEE Newsletter July , 2008 ABA General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division Chairs - Kenneth Vercammen, Edison, NJ and Jay Foonberg, Beverly Hills, CA In this issue:
1. Ten Things to Do to Prepare a Will For Probate 2 Reminder: Elder Law 2008- Expanding and Marketing an Elder Law Practice Program at ABA Annual Meeting 50+ Forms and articles 3 Great Seminars and Events at ABA New York meeting for Solo & Small Firm Attorneys
1.
Ten Things to Do to Prepare a Will For Probate
If you are the executor of a will there are many things you must do to get that will ready for probate. Probate means the process by which the deceased's assets are gathered, outstanding debts, taxes and expenses of the funeral and the probate process are paid, and the assets are distributed to the beneficiaries in the will. Following here are the top 10 things needed to prepare for probate. 1. Get names and addresses of all person named in the will; 2. Determine if the deceased has any pending financial or legal matters requiring immediate attention; 3. Arrange for a meeting with everyone named in the will; 4. Gather, do not destroy, any of the deceased records,
tax returns, checks or other documents; 5. Get Death Certificates (from funeral home); 6. Keep careful records of all funeral related expenses; 7. Don't pay debts unless truly necessary; 8. Change locks on the door if deceased lived alone; 9. Secure valuable items; 10. Notify insurance carriers of the recent death. Source:
Law Office of Angela Barker & Associates | 67 Wall Street | Suite 2211 | New York | NY
2 Reminder: Elder Law 2008- Expanding and Marketing an Elder Law Practice Program at ABA Annual Meeting 50+ Forms and articles Saturday, August 9, 2008 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. American Bar Association Annual Meeting, New York City Hilton New York Speakers: Jay Foonberg, Esq. - Author of Best Sellers "How to Start and Build a Law Practice" and "How to get and keep good clients', Beverly Hills, CA Charles Sabatino, director of the ABA's Commission on Law & Aging Kenneth A. Vercammen, Esq. - co-author "Nuts & Bolts of Elder Law", Edison, NJ Parag Patel, Esq. Iselin, NJ List of Articles on CD for Elder Law August 9, 2008 General Practice Division Forms and Documents to be Provided on CD 1 New Client schedule appointment .doc 2 Confidential Will Questionnaire 3 Will bill.doc 4 WILL DRAFT CO 5. Doctor Cert sign POA, will Dr.doc 6 Thank you for Referral_.doc 7 POA DRAFT lt.doc 8 Will Signing Instruction.doc 9 Referral Out Another Atty fax.doc
American Bar Association
10 No rep.doc 11 Recommend Will to Cl.doc 12 Post WILL.doc 13 Client questionnaire end case. 14 POA Grantor Now.doc 15 Wills article 25.doc 16 POA Power of Attorney- article 17 LIVING WILLS.doc 18 Gay and Lesbians- Advance Directives.doc 19 Letter of Instruction.doc 20 Remove Executor.doc 21 Alzheimer, POA Guardianship.doc 22 ANSWERS to Questions Probate.doc 23 Estate Planning 10 Ideas.doc 24 Executor Duties.doc 25 Prenuptial Ag.doc 26 Undue Influence article.doc 27 Attorney- Client Confidentiality.doc 29 Executor to Pay and Notify Cred.doc 29 If no Will.doc 30 NJlaws website & articles.doc 31 Trusts.doc 32 Caveat to Will.doc 33 Central Jersey Elder articles.doc 34 ABA Estate Plan Winter 2008 .doc 35 Estate Plan ABA Nov 2007 .doc 36 ABA ELDER News Aug 2007 GP.doc 37ABA ELDER LAW COMMITTEE Newsletter July 2007 ABA General Practice.doc 39Estate Probate ABA news May. 2007 40 Elder Law ABA news Feb.doc 41 partition suits- .doc 42 INTESTACY .doc 43 Lincoln 17- no charge 44 Guardianship bill 45 RETAINER Probate ESTATE 46 WILL - sign front notary 47Confidentiality Lt to Client 48 Elective Share of Spouse.doc 49 Joint Bank Accounts Upon Death.doc 50 Probate Release Refund Bond.doc 51 Pick Up old Will 52 Index to Documents 53 NJ Probate & Elder Law News Summer 2008 [not on CD]
[Contact Kenneth Vercammen, Esq. for program information 732-572-0500] Contact American Bar Association's ITS at 800-421-0459 for registration KENNETH VERCAMMEN & ASSOCIATES, PC ATTORNEY AT LAW 2053 Woodbridge Ave. Edison, NJ 08817 (Phone) 732-572-0500 (Fax) 732-572-0030 website: www.njlaws.com
3 Great Seminars and Events at ABA New York meeting for Solo & Small Firm Attorneys THURSDAY, AUGUST 7 Registration Opens > 8:00 a.m. Rhinelander Gallery, 2nd Floor, Hilton New York ABA EXPO 10:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m. America's Hall I/II, Hilton New York Day of Equality: 7 Habits of Highly Successful Women in the Industry— Tort Trial and Insurance Hilton 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Day of Equality: 7 Habits of Highly Successful Women in the Industry— Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section Nassau Suite B, 2nd Floor, Hilton New York 3:45 p.m- . The Last Thing Hanging in the Closet: Legal Assistance for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Domestic Violence Victims Hilton New York Petit Trianon, 3rd Floor 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Day of Equalitea Reception
West Ballroom (3rd Floor), Hilton New York [Free]
6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Litigation Welcome & Outreach Reception Grand Salon, Lobby Level, Jumeirah Essex House [Free] 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. LPM Gathering Reception The Atrium Room Restaurant (145 West 53rd Street - between 6th and 7th Avenues) [Free]
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Remi
8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. GP Chair’s Hospitality Suite Plymouth Room, 9th Floor, Westin Times Square [Free]
Friday, August 8— 6:45am Run 5 miles Central Park Start at NY Hilton 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Ballroom (3rd Floor)
8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
LPM Group Breakfast
Sheraton
Towers
Riverside
Solo Day: Takin’ It to the House
Morgan Suite, 2nd Floor, Hilton New York
8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Solo Day: Running with the Big Dogs : How
To Eat Well Without Being Swallowed Up. A Primer on Getting Work from Large Law Firms and Corporate Clients. Nassau Suite A, 2nd Floor, Hilton New York Hilton New York Nassau Suite A, 2nd Floor
8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. CLE - Best of ABA TECHSHOW: Law Practice Management & Technology Tips Conference Room D, Executive Conference Center - Sheraton Towers 8:30 a.m. Improving Your Public Speaking Skills Center for Continuing Legal Education
Nassau Suite B, 2nd Floor, Hilton New York
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon Professional Development
Program—Presentation Skills: Coaching & Tips for the IP Practitioner Starlight South Terrace, 18th Floor, Waldorf=Astoria [approx 6 blocks from Hilton] ABA EXPO 10:00 a.m. -4:00 p.m. America's Hall I/II, Hilton New York
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Solo Day: The Pot of Gold at the end of the Rainbow Retirement Planning, Pensions & Estate Planning for You and Your Firm Hilton New York Nassau Suite A, 2nd Floor Working Together, Wherever You Are: The Lawyer's Guide to Collaboration Tools Friday, August 8, 2008 2 :00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Conference Room D, Executive Conference Center, Sheraton New York LPM 3:45 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Annual Survey of Supreme Court Decisions—Criminal Cases Conference Room K, Executive Conference Center, Sheraton New York This program will review and discuss the cases that came before the Supreme Court during the current term. Constitutional, evidentiary issues and habeas cases will be addressed. 5:30 p.m. to 7pm ABA Women Rainmakers Reception Sheraton New York Lenox Ballroom, 2nd Floor 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Welcome Reception for the Sections of International Law, Intellectual Property Law and Science & Technology Law The Starlight Roof, 18th Floor, Waldorf=Astoria Primary Sponsor: Section of International Law
Additional Sponsors: Section of Science & Technology Law [$$]
10:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. GP Chair’s Hospitality Suite Plymouth, 9th Floor, Westin Times Square
SATURDAY, AUGUST 9 6:45am Run 5 miles Central Park Start at NY Hilton 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. CLE - Social Networking Sites: The Newest Tools for Investigative Research Conference Room D, Executive Conference Center - Sheraton Towers "Going Solo - Starting Your Own Firm" Saturday, August 9, 2008 10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Belasco Room, 5th Floor of the New York Marriott Marquis Hilton]
[Approx 9 blocks from
2pm Elder Law 2008—Expanding an Elder Law Practice General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Division Nassau Suite A, 2nd Floor, Hilton New York Speakers: Jay Foonberg, Esq. - Author of Best Sellers "How to Start and Build a Law Practice" and "How to get and keep good clients', Beverly Hills, CA Charles Sabatino, director of the ABA's Commission on Law & Aging Kenneth A. Vercammen, Esq. - co-author "Nuts & Bolts of Elder Law", Edison, NJ Parag Patel, Esq. Iselin, NJ Additional Sponsors: Senior Lawyers Division, Young Lawyers Division, Health Law Section, Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law, Section of Taxation; Commission on Law & Aging and Physical Disability Law
3:45 PM -5:15 The Lawyer’s Guide to Buying, Selling, Merging and/or Closing a Law Practice General Practice, Solo & Small Firm Division Nassau Suite B, 2nd Floor, Hilton New York
4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. GP Incoming Chair’s Event Plymouth, 9th Floor, Westin Times Square
OPENING ASSEMBLY > 5:30 p.m. Grand Ballroom, 3rd Floor, Waldorf=Astoria Admittance by Badge Only (No Charge) The TomCats Jazz Aces President’s Reception > 7:00 p.m. - 9 Museum of Modern Art MoMA, 11 West 53rd Street, New York SUNDAY, AUGUST 10 6:45am Run 5 miles Central Park Start at NY Hilton 7:30 Solo Caucus Breakfast 7:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Westin Times Square, Gershwin II Room, 4th floor New York, New York 8:30 AM The Art of Impeachment Madison Suite, 2nd Floor, Hilton New York 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The Future is Now! Blogs, Social Networks, Second Life and How They are Changing the Legal Profession Rendezvous Trianon, 3rd Floor, Hilton New York Primary Sponsor: Section of Science & Technology
Voting- House of Delegates ABA The polls will be open during the following hours: Thursday, August 7 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday, August 8 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday, August 9 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Sunday, August 10 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday, August 11 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 12 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Six Delegates-at-Large are elected at each Annual Meeting to serve a three-year term in the House of Delegates. Any member of the Association is eligible to be a Delegate-at-Large, although of the six elected each year, no two may be accredited to the same state, territory or possession. Nominations for Delegates at Large are made by written petition. At this Annual Meeting, there will also be two Delegate-at-Large elected to fill vacancies. All ABA lawyer members who have registered at the Annual Meeting are entitled to vote for Delegatesat-Large. Voting will commence on Thursday, August 7, and continue until 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, _______________________ WE PUBLISH YOUR FORMS AND ARTICLES To help your practice, we feature in this newsletter edition a few forms and articles PLUS tips on marketing and improving service to clients. But your Editor and chairs can't do it all. Please mail articles, suggestions or ideas you wish to share with others in our Tort and Insurance Committee. Let us know if you are finding any useful information or anything you can share with the other members. You will receive written credit as the source and thus you can advise your clients and friends you were published in an ABA publication. We will try to meet you needs. Send Us Your Marketing Tips We are increasing the frequency of our newsletter. Send us your short tips on your great or new successful marketing techniques. You can become a published ABA author. Enjoy your many ABA benefits. Send us your articles & ideas
To help your practice, we feature in this newsletter edition a few articles and tips on marketing and improving service to clients. But your Editor and chairs can't do it all. Please send articles, suggestions or ideas you wish to share with others. General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Division: Elder Law Committee and the ESTATE PLANNING, PROBATE & TRUST COMMITTEE Who We Are This committee focuses on improving estate planning skills, substantive law knowledge and office procedures for the attorney who practices estate planning, probate and trust law. This committee also serves as a network resource in educating attorneys regarding Elder Law situations. To help your practice, we feature in this newsletter edition a few articles and tips on marketing and improving service to clients. But your Editor and chairs can't do it all. Please send articles, suggestions or ideas you wish to share with others. Let us know if you are finding any useful information or anything you can share with the other members. You will receive written credit as the source and thus you can advise your clients and friends you were published in an ABA publication. We will try to meet you needs. We also seek articles on Elder Law, Probate, Wills, Medicaid and Marketing. Please send your marketing ideas and articles to us. You can become a published ABA author. ________________________________________ The Elder Law Committee of the ABA General Practice Division is directed towards general practitioners and more experienced elder law attorneys. The committee consistently sponsors programs at the Annual Meeting, the focus of which is shifting to advanced topics for the more experienced elder lawyer. This committee also focuses on improving estate planning skills, substantive law knowledge and office procedures for the attorney who practices estate planning, probate and trust law. This committee also serves as a network resource in educating attorneys regarding Elder Law situations. Kenneth Vercammen, Esq. co-Chair Jay Foonberg, Beverly Hills Co-chair, Author of Best Sellers "How to Start and Build a Law Practice" and "How to get and keep good clients', Beverly Hills, CA JayFoonberg@aol.com> We will also provide tips on how to promote your law office, your practice and Personal Marketing Skills in general. It does not deal with government funded "legal services" for indigent, welfare cases.
KENNETH VERCAMMEN & ASSOCIATES, PC ATTORNEY AT LAW 2053 Woodbridge Ave. Edison, NJ 08817 (Phone) 732-572-0500 (Fax) 732-572-0030 Kenv@njlaws.com Central Jersey Elder Law www.centraljerseyelderlaw.com NJ Elder Blog http://elder-law.blogspot.com/