Articles for Professionals

Article	Author	Description	Formats
Using Google and Other Alternative Sources for Traditional Software and Services	Glenn M. Karisch, The Karisch Law Firm, PLLC	Tips for solo practitioners and small firms considering moving to the cloud.	HTML PDF
Estate Tax Chaos Presents Opportunities, Problems	Glenn M. Karisch, The Karisch Law Firm, PLLC	Discussion of the mess created by Congress when it failed to extend the estate tax for persons dying on or after January 1, 2010	HTML
Disclaimers: Using Your Rearview Mirror to Plan	Kristi N. Elsom, Fizer, Beck, Webster, Bentley & Scroggins	Disclaimer basics, plus an analysis of recent decisions and private letter rulings regarding use of disclaimers	PDF
Use of Disclaimers in Pre- and Post-Death Planning	Glenn M. Karisch, The Karisch Law Firm, PLLC	Slideshow of presentation about the practical use of disclaimers	PDF
Estate Planning for Dysfunctional Families	Glenn M. Karisch, The Karisch Law Firm, PLLC	Defensive planning techniques for the world in which we live	PDF
2009 Legislative Update	William D. Pargaman, Brown McCarroll	Summary of 2009 legislation affecting estate planning, probate, guardianship and trust law, including text of most changes	PDF
2009 Legislative Update	Glenn M. Karisch, The Karisch Law Firm, PLLC	Summary of 2009 legislation affecting estate planning, probate, guardianship and trust law	Paper Slides
Useful Links	Glenn M. Karisch, The Karisch Law Firm, PLLC	Links discussed during technology presentation at the 2008 Advanced Estate Planning and Probate Law Course	PDF
Multi-Party Accounts and Other Non-Probate Assets in Texas	Glenn M. Karisch, The Karisch Law Firm, PLLC	Analysis of Texas laws governing multi-party accounts, including right of survivorship issues, as well as other assets that do not pass under a decedent's will -- updated 2008	PDF
Court-Created Trusts in Texas	Glenn M. Karisch, The Karisch Law Firm, PLLC	History, analysis and how-to guide to court-created trusts in Texas, including equitable trusts, Section 867 Trusts and Chapter 142 Trusts -- updated 2008	PDF
Protecting the Surviving Spouse . . . and Protecting Yourself After Belt v.Oppenheimer	Glenn M. Karisch, The Karisch Law Firm, PLLC	Estate planning strategies that protect the surviving spouse in bypass trust situations, as well as discussion of ethical issues surrounding representing both the husband and wife in estate planning situations -- updated 2008	PDF
Modifying and Terminating Irrevocable Trusts	Glenn M. Karisch, The Karisch Law Firm, PLLC	Techniques for reforming, modifying or terminating irrevocable trusts, including analysis of 2005 changes to Tex. Trust Code Sec. 112.054 that substantially liberalized trust modification in Texas -- updated 2008	PDF
2007 Texas Legislative Update -- Short Version	Glenn M. Karisch, The Karisch Law Firm, PLLC	Summary of 2007 legislation affecting estate planning, probate, guardianship and trust law (does not include changed sections of the Probate and Trust Codes)	PDF
2007 Texas Legislative Update -- Long Version	Glenn M. Karisch, The Karisch Law Firm, PLLC	Summary of 2007 legislation affecting estate planning, probate, guardianship and trust law, including changed sections of the Probate and Trust Codes	PDF
UPIA and Diversification: Bringing Existing Trusts into Compliance with the New Law	Glenn M. Karisch, Barnes & Karisch, P. C., Austin, Texas	An analysis of the problems that the duty to diversify investments in the new Uniform Prudent Investor Act presents to the trustees of existing trusts	PDF
2005 Texas Legislative Update	Glenn M. Karisch, Barnes & Karisch, P. C., Austin, Texas	Summary of the 2005 Texas Legislative session	PDF
2003 Legislative Update	Glenn M. Karisch, Barnes & Karisch, P. C., Austin, Texas	Summary of the 2003 Texas Legislative session	HTML WordPerfect PDF (PDF includes extra materials -- sort of the DVD version, I guess)
The Two UPIAs -- How They Will Change the World	Glenn M. Karisch, Barnes & Karisch, P. C., Austin, Texas	Discussion of the versions of the Uniform Prudent Investor Act and the Uniform Principal and Income Act enacted in Texas, which become effective January 1, 2004.	WordPerfect PDF
How the 2001 Changes to Estate and Gift Taxation Affect You	Barnes & Karisch, P. C.	Overview of the R.E.L.I.E.F. Act of 2001 (as it relates to estate and gift taxation), from a layman's perspective	HTML WordPerfect PDF
Texas Legislative Update -- 2001	Glenn M. Karisch, Barnes & Karisch, P. C., Austin, Texas	Summary of the 2001 Texas Legislative session	WordPerfect PDF
Texas Legislative Update -- 1999	Glenn M. Karisch, Barnes & Karisch, P. C., Austin, Texas	Summary of the 1999 Texas Legislative session, including description of bills that passed, new forms, etc.	HTML WordPerfect Zipped WP
Disability Benefits in the Estate Plan: Passing the Means Test	H. Clyde Farrell, Austin, Texas	An overview of the most significant public benefits for persons with disabilities, intended to assist attorneys and other benefits counselors to identify the major benefits to which disabled clients may be entitled	WordPerfect MS Word Zipped
Legal Research on the Internet	Joseph G. Hodges, Jr., Denver, Colorado, and Glenn M. Karisch, Austin, Texas	Article with many internet links presented to 1999 ACTEC Annual Meeting	HTML WordPerfect Zipped WP
Roth IRAs, Including Technical Corrections in the IRS Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998	Noel C. Ice, Cantey & Hanger, Fort Worth, Texas	An early version of Noel's Roth IRA analysis. For a more current version, go to Noel's web site.	HTML
Using the Internet in an Estate Planning Practice	Glenn M. Karisch, Barnes & Karisch, P. C., Austin, Texas	Lots of links. An earlier version of the Hodges/Karisch paper (see above) with Texas emphasis and with web marketing information.	HTML WordPerfect Zipped WP
Special Trusts: 867, 142, 1396 SupplementalNeeds Trusts, When and How to Use Them	Deborah A. Green, Green Benouis & McCullar, L. L. P., Austin, Texas	Using supplemental needs trusts to qualify the beneficiary to receive government benefits	WordPerfect Zipped WP
Sleeping With The Enemy: How to Sleep at Night While Making a Living With an Estate Planning Practice	Glenn M. Karisch, Barnes & Karisch, P. C., Austin, Texas	The ethical issues arising in representing both spouses in estate planning matters	HTML WordPerfect Zipped WP
Court Created Section 867 Trusts	Kathleen Ford Bay, Hilgers & Watkins, P. C., Austin, Texas	Analysis of trusts created pursuant to Section 867 of the Texas Probate Code	WordPerfect Zipped WP
Are the Winds of Change Blowing for Texas Probate Courts? Or . . . 5B, Or Not 5B, That is the Question	Glenn M. Karisch, Barnes & Karisch, P. C., Austin, Texas	Analysis of pre-1999 caselaw and legislative developments affecting probate court jurisdiction and transfer power which led to 1999 legislative changes	HTML WordPerfect Zipped WP
1997 Texas Legislative Update	Glenn M. Karisch, Barnes & Karisch, P. C., Austin, Texas	A summary of 1997 Texas legislative changes affecting probate, estate planning and trust law	HTML WordPerfect Zipped WP
Transfers of Community Property in Qualified Plans and IRAs	Noel C. Ice, Cantey & Hanger, Fort Worth, Texas	The effects of Boggs v. Boggs on community property interests in qualified plans and IRAs	HTML WordPerfect Zipped WP
*A Preliminary Analysis of Boggs V. Boggs --* And The Problems it Does Not Answer**	Alvin J. Golden, Ikard & Golden, P. C., Austin, Texas	Analysis of the U. S. Supreme Court's Boggs v. Boggs decision (federal preemption of community property laws for ERISA plans)	HTML WordPerfect Zipped WP
It's Deja Vu All over Again: Recent Developments in Marital Deduction Planning	Alvin J. Golden, Ikard & Golden, P. C., Austin, Texas	Discussion of the latest issues affecting QTIPs and other marital deduction issues	HTML
Planning for Distributions from Qualified Plans and IRAs	Alvin J. Golden, Ikard & Golden, P. C., Austin, Texas	Analysis of the complex issues involved in completing beneficiary designations and making elections regarding qualified plans and IRAs	HTML
Trust Litigation -- Suing and Defending a Trustee for Breach of Fiduciary Duty	Frank N. Ikard, Jr., Ikard & Golden, P. C., Austin, Texas	Fiduciary litigation from both the plaintiff's and defendant's perspective	HTML
Texas Probate Jurisdiction	Frank N. Ikard, Jr., Ikard & Golden, P. C., Austin, Texas	The jurisdiction of the various courts in Texas which hear probate matters	HTML
Top Ten Trust Tricks	Jerry Frank Jones, Of Counsel, Ikard & Golden, P. C., Austin, Texas	Common uses for trusts in estate planning	HTML
The Whole Story in 3 Deep Breaths, or Estate and Probate	Jerry Frank Jones, Of Counsel, Ikard & Golden, P. C., Austin, Texas	The basics of estate planning and probate	HTML
Wills, Probate and Trusts	Jerry Frank Jones, Of Counsel, Ikard & Golden, P. C., Austin, Texas	The basics of estate planning and probate	HTML