February 2008
Perhaps one of the easiest ways to utilize codes is to locate the code in a different place and copy and paste the code using the Edit menu, into the new location. In addition to copying and pasting, the system provides various options via the Insert menu to insert codes.
Hard Return
A hard return forces the text following to a new line. It has many of the same properties of the paragraph break (described below) except that it will retain all formatting.
Example: Titles often utilize hard returns instead of paragraph breaks. In the following example, the title includes codes for bold and centering. By using a hard return to bring the text "Health Care Power of Attorney" down to a second line, the bold and center formatting are retained.
South Carolina
Health Care Power of Attorney
If a paragraph break had been used, the title would look like this:
South Carolina
Health Care Power of Attorney
Font Change
The point size or type of font used in the phrase may be changed utilizing the Font Change feature. A code placed anywhere in the document will affect text following the code until a termination code is inserted. The termination code is entered by clicking on Insert/Font Change and selecting "Return font and size to default".
If text is blocked first, and then a Font Change code is entered, only the blocked text will be affected and a termination code is not necessary.
Font type codes placed in documents within Cowles Customizer will override any designations made within the Preferences section of Trust Plus or TrusTerminator. Changes in font type for titles or single paragraphs are done easily within Customizer while changes desired for whole documents should be done within Preferences so that multiple codes will not have to be entered.
If only the point size is to be changed, be sure to leave the Font Type as "No change" so that previous designations will remain the same.
Indent
This tool will allow you to place an indent into your document. After the indent option is selected, a second screen is displayed allowing you to select indent options:
- Level: Each level equates to ½ inch. Therefore if level 2 is chosen, your text will be indented one inch.
- Kickback: The kickback level indicates how far back the caption is placed. If the kickback is placed at level 1, the caption will be placed ½ inch back.
- Caption: The system allows for a caption or subheading for each set of indented text.
A paragraph will continue to be indented until a paragraph break is inserted.
Example:
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
- I revoke any prior Health Care Power of Attorney and any provisions relating to health care of any other prior power of attorney.
- This power of attorney is intended to be valid in any jurisdiction in which it is presented.
In this example the text "1. I revoke..." is indented 2 levels with the "1." being kicked back one level. Using this method allows for the caption of "1" to be set apart without having the subsequent text being wrapped around.
Merge Code
A merge code accesses dynamic information such as the date, client name, and spouse name, and merges the information into your document. (More detail on Merge Codes below.)
Page Break
Text following this code will be placed on the next page.
Example: Page breaks have been placed in the revocable trust document between each article so that the subsequent article will begin at the top of a new page. If these codes were removed, the subsequent article would begin immediately following the previous article.
Paragraph Break
A paragraph break forces the text following to a new line. This code also terminates all formatting and is therefore commonly used at the end of a paragraph.
Example: Paragraph breaks are used extensively throughout the Cowles documents. In the following example two paragraph breaks separate the two paragraphs. The first one forces the following text to the next line and the second forces the blank line to separate the paragraphs.
"In the event any corporate trustee(s) shall merge, consolidate with, sell, or transfer substantially all of its business assets to another corporation, state or federal, the corporation resulting from such merger or consolidation of the corporation to which it is converted or to which such sale or transfer shall be made, shall hereupon become the trustee(s) hereunder with the same effect as though originally named.
Any expense incurred by the trustee(s) under this Article may be charged against income or principal as the trustee(s) shall determine in a fair and equitable manner to the extent the allocation is not covered by statute."
Paragraph Number
The paragraph number option allows you to generate all or part of your phrase in an outline format. With your cursor positioned at the beginning of your paragraph, click on Insert/Paragraph Number. Select a level and click OK. The level represents to what degree your paragraph will be indented. Each level has a different paragraph number format.
Example: In the example below, four paragraph numbering codes have been included. Points A. and B. are separate paragraphs with a level of 1 using an alpha scheme. Point 1. has a level of 2 causing it to be indented using a numbering scheme. Point a. has a level of 3 causing it to be indented an additional level with a alpha lowercase scheme. At the end of each paragraph, paragraph codes (discussed above) should be added to force the text to the next line.
This is your introduction.
A. This is the first paragraph with level 1.
B. This is the second paragraph with level 1.
1. This is the third paragraph with level 2.
a. This is the fourth paragraph with level 3.
Section Break
A section break will divide your document into sections to allow for a new header and/or footer, renumbering of pages, and different margins for the section.
Example: Within the Trust Plus set of documents, a section break is placed between each document (Revocable Trust, Bill of Sale, Certificate of Trustee Authority and Power etc.). The section break allows for different header and footers, and different margins where appropriate. Page numbering begins at 1 for each section.
After clicking on the section break option, a second screen will be displayed allowing you to base the margins for your new section on another document. A header and footer text box allows you to enter your new header/footer information. This header/footer will override any custom header/footers that you may have added. Merge codes such as the name of the client may be included as well as style codes such as bold. The word PAGE may be entered to have the system include the page number in either the header or footer.
Special Character
This section allows special characters to be inserted into your document such as the section symbol (for inserting statutes) and various types of bullets.
Tab
This tool will allow you to place a tab within your document equal to ½ inch. While a tab is similar to an indent in many ways, they are not the same. If a tab code is placed within a document, only the line with the tab code will be moved in and subsequent lines will be wrapped around. If an indent is used, the paragraph will continue to be indented until a paragraph break is inserted.
Multiple tabs may be inserted to move the text in more than ½ inch.
Table Row
A table row is often used to line up items such as signature and witness lines.
Using Merge Codes
A merge code accesses dynamic information such as the date, client name, spouse name, or signing date, and merges the information into your document. Because merge codes may be long and complex to type, Cowles Customizer allows you to insert these codes by selecting items from a drop-down menu.
Before you can begin working with merge codes, your phrase must be selected from the Phrase Selector window. After the phrase is selected, position your cursor within the phrase where the code will be placed, and click on Insert/Merge Code. The Merge Code window will be displayed. Click on the Merge Codes drop-down menu to select the specific code needed.
The codes are categorized into four sections:
Client Variables
Codes for client information, such as name and address, are included in this section. The Style Window will be displayed for many of these codes prompting you to determine the formatting of the code utilizing bold, italics, and capitalization options.
Preference Variables
Codes for information entered in the Preferences area of the system, such as law office address and notary information, are included in this section.
Merge Information Variables
Module-specific codes (revocable trust, third-party trustee, irrevocable trust, supplemental needs trust, will or trust termination) for data entered on the Enter Merge Information screen, such as the signing date or trust name, are included in this section. Only codes for the module that you have selected on the Phrase Selector screen will be displayed. For example, if you are working on a revocable trust phrase, only merge codes associated with the revocable trust module would be displayed.
Other Variables
General codes relating to date, attorney name, and gender terminology are included in this category.
Today's Date: This code will insert today's date into your phrase. (Do not confuse this code with the signing date. The signing date is a separate code under the Trust Plus Merge Information section).
Attorney Name: This code will insert the name of the attorney, as it is displayed in your Preferences section, into your phrase. (A separate attorney code is included within the Client section of the merge fields reflecting the signing attorney that is entered on the Client screen in Trust Plus.) The Style Window will be displayed prompting you to determine the formatting of the name utilizing bold, italics, and capitalization options.
Pronouns: The system provides various codes to handle pronouns in the system such as he/she, him/her, his/her, and I/we. Special logic within the system will automatically determine the correct gender version of the pronoun based on the session information. The terminology testator/testatrix may also be inserted here. The Style Window prompts you to determine the formatting of the name utilizing bold, italics, and capitalization options.
Example for inserting a merge code: To incorporate the code for the client's first name into your phrase, click into the exact spot where the code is to be inserted. Then click on Insert/Merge Code from the Content tab.
On the Merge Code window, click on Merge Codes/Clients/First Name:
The Style window will be displayed providing formatting options for this code. In this example the bold code has been selected. Click OK to continue.
The appropriate code will now be brought into the phrase. The code we have inserted appears in blue.
Click OK to save the phrase changes. When this letter is selected, merged, and created in Trust Plus, your changes will be incorporated.