Article on Estate Planning for Vulnerable Clients

Martin M. Shenkman recently published an article entitled, Estate Planning for the Chronically Ill, Aging, and Otherwise Vulnerable or Isolated Client, ABA Probate & Property, May/June (2016). Provided below is a summary of the Article:        

        Attorneys routinely build flexibility into their documents to address the uncertainty of future tax laws. This same care can be applied to helping clients deal with the uncertainties aging and chronic disease may bring. Certain clients are more vulnerable to financial abuse and other gaps in their estate planning safety nets. This heightened risk may be because of the challenges of aging, chronic illness, and other similar circumstances. Those clients who require extra precautions in the planning process will be referred to as “vulnerable clients.” This article will explore four key points of planning for vulnerable clients: different approaches for planning, planning for those with chronic illness, enhancing traditional estate planning for vulnerable clients, and planning for isolated vulnerable clients.