March 2008

As of February 2008, the Cowles Estate Organizer Binder has a new look! The response has been extremely positive and we hope that you are as excited about the changes as we are! (Click HERE for specific information on these changes including updated pricing.)

The Cowles Estate Organizer Binder is intended to help you organize the documents, instructions, and information your clients need in a single, organized, and straightforward way that your clients will appreciate and utilize for many years to come.

The binder content now includes an assembly checklist replacing the colored pages used previously. A new tab format complements the binder design AND provides a ready description of the materials included behind each tab. In addition, the Cowles software (beginning with version 18.1) offers a new Binder Insert and CD Label along with other existing tools to further enhance the professional look and functionality of the binder.

See below to view an expanded version of the assembly checklist including a description and location of each item. (This will also be available in the Cowles Members Only Tech Tips archive.) This checklist was designed to streamline the assembly of the binder contents making this process easier for you! We hope these tools will be helpful as you continue to implement the new Estate Organizer Binder into your practice.

This item includes various title pages for use with the binder:

• A title page for the Complete Estate Plan customized with the name of the grantor(s) and the name, address, and phone number of the law firm.
• A title page for the Revocable Living Trust customized with the trust name and grantor name(s).
• A recordable title page for the revocable trust - included so legal descriptions can be inserted on the title page before recording to ensure that legal descriptions show up in the chain of title on real estate affected by the document (e.g. trust, certificate of trust, power of attorney).

The cover pages are selected from Supporting Documents in the Phrase/Document Selection area of Trust Plus.

b. Binder Cover Insert

The insert is designed to be placed into the sleeve on the front cover of the Estate Organizer Binder, allowing the binder to be personalized for each client. Print this insert on cardstock (or business card stock) and then cut to business card size before inserting.

The Binder Cover Insert is selected from Supporting Documents in the Phrase/Document Selection area of Trust Plus.

c. CD-ROM Label

A personalized CD may be generated for your client for use in providing electronic versions of selected client materials (such as the asset transfer letters/documents). Print customized text on a CD label (such as Avery 5931 or 8931) to create a professional, finished look for your client's electronic documents.

The CD Label is selected from Supporting Documents in the Phrase/Document Selection area of Trust Plus.

d. Billfold Card

The Billfold Card for client use in titling new assets, containing the proper language for titling of assets, will be prepared by your software, so the clients can have language for accurate titling of their assets in their billfold at any time. If two individual trusts are created, three billfold cards will be created - one for his trust, one for her trust, and one for the two trusts as tenants in common. For future assets acquired, the clients may use whichever card will accurately title the asset. The cards may be laminated as a service to the client(s). It is convenient for the client and third party institutions, and an effective marketing technique as well, to insert your business card on the back of the billfold card for easy reference. The billfold card specifically states that ownership of tax-deferred assets should not be transferred to the trust, to prevent potential issues created by a client using the billfold card in regard to titling of tax-deferred assets.

Step 2. Make copies of the following documents:

• Declaration of Trust
• Bill of Sale
• Comprehensive Transfer Document
• Deeds, assignments, and/or other documents transferring assets to the trust
• Certificate of Trustee Authority and Power (Long form, short form and/or UTC Certification)
• Pourover Will
• Power of Attorney
• Health Care Directives, HIPPA Form
• Irrevocable trust(s) such as a life insurance trust or supplemental needs trust
• Other additional documents as appropriate

Assemble the binder in this order:

• Complete Estate Plan Cover Sheet
• Information About Your Estate Organizer page
• Definitions page
• Summary of Contents page
• Schedule of Legal Documents page
• TAB: Description of Documents
• Section 1 (pages 1-1 through 1-5)
• TAB: Explanation of Trust
• Section 2 (pages 2-1 through 2-3)
• TAB: Maintaining Trust/Changing Trustee
• Section 3 (pages 3-1 through 3-4)
• TAB: Procedure After Death
• Section 4 (pages 4-1 through 4-11)
• TAB: Asset Transfers
• Section 5 (pages 5-1 through 5-6)
• TAB: Asset Transfers
• Sample Forms - All blank and sample letters
• TAB: Living Trust
• Cover sheet of the trust agreement
• Trust agreement (copy)
• Bill of sale (copy)
• Comprehensive transfer document (copy)
• TAB: List of Assets
• Specific List of Assets pages
• Deeds, assignments, and/or other asset transfer documents (copies)
• TAB: Certificate of Trustee Authority
• Certificate of trustee authority and power (short form)/UTC certification (copy)
• Certificate of trustee authority and power (long form) (copy)
• TAB: Pourover Will
• Pourover will (copy)
• TAB: Power of Attorney
• Power of attorney (copy)
• TAB: Health Care Directives
• Any health care directives and the HIPAA form (copies)
• TAB: Irrevocable Trust
• Text pages discussing life insurance planning
• Any irrevocable trust documents (copies)
• TAB: Other Documents
• Any additional documents as appropriate

Place the CD label on a client-ready CD containing any electronic documents and insert the CD into the CD sleeve included with the Estate Organizer Binder. Insert the sleeve in the lower two binder rings on top of the complete estate plan cover sheet.

Insert the laminated billfold card (with or without the firm business card on the reverse side) in the first slot on the inside front cover.

Insert the attorney's business card in the second slot on the inside front cover.

Insert the binder cover insert in the holder on the front cover of the binder.

Prepare the originals; print out covers and envelopes as needed for the original documents.