Estate Planning Makes Sense

Betty Lukas’ excellent article on charitable remainder trusts (“Trust Provides Donors Income, Tax Benefits for Generosity,” May 22) omitted one outstanding alternative that is available to insurable donors.

The donor can set up a separate wealth replacement (life insurance) trust naming the children as beneficiaries. The donor can pay the premiums from a portion of the income from the CRT or use some of the income generated from the tax deductions they’ll receive as a result of the gift.

Through insurance, this special trust can replace all or a portion of the value of the property donated. When the last donor dies the children will receive cash from the insurance proceeds (tax free) because it is not part of the decedents estate.

BILL BROADBENT

San Luis Obispo

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Your recent articles on estate planning were the best written and most useful articles I have seen on the subject.

I’ve gone to seminars, lectures, workshops and tried to read books on the subject. None of those gave me a focus or a plan to follow.

After reading the first article I felt directed to a family limited partnership (FLIP), and I awaited the last article. I am finally on the road to doing something--a FLIP, which until reading the articles, I had never known existed.

MARY LOU MIDDLETON

Woodland Hills

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While my own practice of law does not pertain to probate or estate planning, I clearly recall suffering through my studies of those topics in law school. I only wish that my professors and textbooks had been as cogent and concise as Lukas. All three of her articles were readable, informative and enjoyable.

JOYCE A. BELLUCCI

Torrance