Estate planning must consider every fact and circumstance concerning a client. It takes many forms and its breath and complications are illustrated by the following matters.

1. SIMPLICITY. A woman is dying of cancer and her only asset is an insurance policy, paying $15,000 upon her death. She has a 10 year old son and wants the proceeds from the insurance policy to provide for his care until he is 18 years old. This matter can be resolved by having the client execute a beneficiary statement providing equal monthly payments by her insurance company to a custodian relative from the death benefits. This monthly payment would go towards the care of her son until he is 18 years old. No will or other planning would be required.
2. PROVIDING FOR DISABILITY CARE. Today, many people have no immediate family and are concerned about providing for their own care should they become disabled. One method of resolution is that all assets be transferred to a trust. An independent Trustee would be designated to provide the care which the client requests. The cost of the care would be secondary.
3. CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES. Estate planning for a married couple often involves a substantial estate. This situation may require, over a period of time, an elaborate estate plan, amendments to a family trust such that there is no estate tax on the death of the first spouse, and a restated family trust in order to provide the maximum of exempt general skipping funds for their grandchildren.
4. ESTATE TAX PLANNING. A widow with a large estate composed primarily of interests in real estate partnerships typically wishes to transfer her assets to later generations at the lowest possible cost for gift and estate taxes. Over a number of years preceding her death, the widow should consider making exempt gifts to family members, revising the language of partnership agreements, and implementing other techniques designed to reduce the taxes owed by her estate upon her death.