2023

The Co-Hosts for the 2023 Fabulous Fridays Webinar Series were Marsha Goetting, MSU Extension Family Economics Specialist and Mandie Reed, MSU Extension Wheatland County Extension Agent.

  • March 3, 2023
    Selecting an Attorney in Montana to Develop an Estate Plan or Administer an Estate
    Montana 4-H Alumni Guest: Tara Rice, Attorney, Helena

    When selecting an attorney to help develop an estate plan, you need to have one who is well-informed about Montana will and trust laws, and other legal tools. You want the attorney to develop an estate plan tailored to your needs, by considering your age, health, family, income, assets, goals, and other circumstances. If your goal is to find an attorney to help settle an estate or administer a probate, then look for one who is knowledgeable about the probate process and trust law in Montana. Attorneys have different areas of expertise. This session will explore how to find an attorney and what questions you want to ask about developing a plan or settling an estate.

  • February 24, 2023
    A Living Legacy with a Tax Benefit
    Montana 4-H Alumni Guest:  Carli Neal, 4-H Leader

    The Montana Endowment Tax Credit is a Treasure State that gem could provide a credit up to $10,000 annually on your Montana income tax.  This is a win-win for Montana taxpayers and Montana charities and nonprofits.  Montana is one of just a few states to offer such a credit.  Learn about this unique program and how you could benefit. Also become aware of the meaning of the stepped-up basis on inherited property and carry-over basis on gifted property and the resulting taxes.

  • February 17, 2023
    What You Can Do With a Will and What You Can't!
    Montana 4-H Alumni Guest:  Leslie Burns Boggess, Oregon 4-H Foundation
    Guest Speaker: Katy Lovell, Montana Legal Developer Program
    Learn when a written will works and when it does not.  Become aware of the basic provisions an attorney includes in a will. Learn about a special program that can be used by those 60 and over to write a will at no cost.  Learn about the meaning of phrases in wills such as, “right of representation” or “per stirpes.”
  • February 10, 2023
    Revocable and Testamentary Trusts:  Which is Better?  It Depends!
    Montana 4-H Alumni Guest:  Rocky Forseth, Allied Genetic Resources
    Discover situations under which revocable and testamentary trusts can be useful estate planning tools.  Explore how special needs trusts can be established for minor children and adults with special needs.  Learn about the meaning of the various phrases often used in trusts.  Explore family circumstances for which a trust could be most beneficial. 
  • February 3, 2023
    Save More Money For Your Heirs By Avoiding Probate
    Montana 4-H Alumni Guest:  Sarah Hamlen, Investment Advisor

    Learn how you can pass property to your heirs without probate and save your estate money.  Montanans can add Payable on Death (POD) designations on their checking and savings accounts and CDs at banks and credit unions.  Transfer on Death (TOD) registrations can be added to your stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.  A Transfer on Death Deed can be filed on real property to avoid probate.  And now Montanans can have a Beneficiary designation on their vehicle and vessel titles. Learn how these designations over-ride a written will.

  • January 27, 2023
    What Factors Decide Who Receives Your Property After You Die?
    Montana 4-H Alumni Guest:  Amber Stenson, Attorney

    The property of Montanans who do not have a written will or a trust is distributed according to the “law of intestate succession.” However, Montanans need to understand how they have titled their property could over-ride this law.  And they need to realize that beneficiary designations cannot be “undone” with a written will or trust.  Be sure the assets you have worked so hard to acquire pass to people you want instead of being decided by the Montana Legislature.

 

 

2022

The Co-Hosts for the 2022 Fabulous Fridays Webinar Series were Marsha Goetting, MSU Extension Family Economics Specialist and Kim Suta Woodring, MSU Extension Toole County Extension Agent

 

  • March 25, 2022
    Accessing a Deceased Person’s Financial Accounts
    Guest:  Todd Kesner, Director, Montana Center for 4-H and Youth Development

    When a Montana resident dies, state law provides a process for determining who is legally entitled to inherit his/her financial accounts with banks, credit unions, savings banks, or other entities such as brokerage firms and stocks or bonds companies.

  • March 18, 2022
    Selecting an Attorney in Montana to Develop an Estate plan or Administer an Estate (Probate)
    Guest:  Emma Jobson, 4-H Agricultural & Natural Resources Specialist

    Selecting an attorney:  When selecting an attorney to help develop an estate plan, you should select one who is well-informed about Montana will and trust laws, and other legal tools. You want the attorney to develop an estate plan tailored to your needs, by considering your age, health, family, income, assets, goals, and other circumstances. If the goal is to find an attorney to help settle an estate or administer a probate, then look for one who is knowledgeable about the probate process and trust law in Montana. Attorneys have different areas of expertise. This session will explore how to find an attorney and what questions you want to ask about developing a plan or settling an estate.
  • March 11, 2022
    Using an IRA as an Estate/Legacy Planning Tool and the Montana Endowment Tax Credit as a Living Legacy Tool
    Guest :  Jane Wolery, MSU Extension Teton Family and Consumer Science/4-H Agent

    Learn how traditional and Roth IRAs can be useful estate planning tools.  Explore what happens when you leave an IRA to your heirs.  Learn how Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from your traditional IRA can support your favorite charity or nonprofit while reducing your tax liability at the state and federal levels.

  • March 4, 2022
    Financial, Estate, and Health Care Planning Documents for Montanans Concerned about Memory Loss
    Guest:  Scott Francis, Outdoor Activities Coordinator, Montana 4-H Center for Youth Development

    During this time when we continue to face anxiety and disruption, our vulnerable Montanans are at especially high risk.  This webinar will introduce a specific form for the Montana Health Care Power of Attorney, along with a packet of accompanying forms. The materials were developed by the Health Care Law Section and Business, Estates, Trusts, Tax and Real Property Section of the State Bar of Montana, Montana State University Extension, and the Montana Alzheimer's Workgroup. Highlights from the Montana statutory Financial Power of Attorney Act will also be discussed.

  • February 25, 2022
    Should I Gift While I am Alive or Leave a Bequest After I Die?
    Guest:   Shelby Martinell, 4-H Foundation Board of Directors 

    There are some who say federal and state death taxes is the determining factor. You will also become aware of the meaning of the stepped-up basis on inherited property and carry-over basis on gifted property and the resulting tax impact.
  • February 18, 2022
    Using Montana estate planning tools to avoid probate while saving more dollars for your heirs
    Guest:  Barbara Larsen, Toole County 4-H Project Leader

    Learn how beneficiary designations on your assets allow you to pass property to your heirs without probate and save your estate money.  Montanans can add Payable on Death (POD) designations checking and savings accounts, and CDs at banks and credit unions.  You can add Transfer on Death (TOD) registrations to your stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.  You can file a Transfer on Death Deed on real property and avoid probate. You can file MV13 and avoid probate on your vehicle or vessel. Learn how these designations over-ride a written will regardless of when it was written.
  • February 11, 2022
    My Loved One Just Passed Away. Now What?
    Guest:  Breanna Blain, Montana 4-H Ambassador

    Most of us are not experts at what to do after a loved one passes away. However, at some point in our lives many of us will find ourselves faced with settling an estate for a family member or friend. Many people think that if the decedent left a will or a trust then the process for settling their estate will be simple and easy. But often overlooked are the many decisions a survivor will need to make in the first few days after a death and many of the minor tasks (such as canceling magazine subscriptions and forwarding mail) that may need to be completed.

  • February 4, 2022
    What to Include in a Letter of Last Instruction
    Guest:  Tim Gill, Montana 4-H Foundation President

    Such a letter will be of immense value to survivors after your death. By writing a letter with details about the location of important papers you can provide essential information needed to relieve your survivors (spouse, children or other family members) of needless hours of frustration and anguish as they search for needed documents during a time of sadness and grief over your passing.

 

 

2021

  • November 19, 2021
    Taxes and Estate Planning
    Guest: Jane Wolery, Teton MSU County Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Agent

    Taking advantage of the Montana Endowment Tax Credit is a win-win for Montana taxpayers and Montana charities. This Treasure State gem could provide a credit up to $10,000 annually on your Montana income tax.  This is a win-win for Montana taxpayers and Montana charities and nonprofits.  Montana is one of just a few states to offer such a credit.  Learn about this unique program and how you could benefit. Also become aware of the meaning of the stepped up basis on inherited property and carry-over basis on gifted property and the resulting taxes.
  • November 12, 2021
    Financial and Health Care Powers of Attorney
    Guest:  Todd Kesner, 4-H Center for Youth Development, Director

    During this time when we continue to face anxiety and disruption, our vulnerable Montanans are at especially high risk.  This webinar will introduce a specific form for the Montana Health Care Power of Attorney, along with a packet of accompanying forms. The materials were developed by the Health Care Law Section and Business, Estates, Trusts, Tax and Real Property Section of the State Bar of Montana, Montana State University Extension, and the Montana Alzheimer's Workgroup. Highlights from the Montana statutory Financial Power of Attorney Act will also be discussed.

  • November 5, 2021
    What’s the Difference Between a Revocable Living Trust and Testamentary Trust?
    Guest:  Emma Jobson, MSU 4-H Agriculture and Natural Resources

    Discover some of the advantages and disadvantage of living, and testamentary Clayton Election QTIP trusts as estate planning tools.  Learn about the meaning of types of phrases often used in trusts.  Explore family circumstances in which a trust could be beneficial.  

  • October 29, 2021
    Who Gets Grandma's Yellow Pie Plate and Grandpa's Watch
    Guest:  Scott Francis, Outdoor Education Coordinator, MSU 4-H Center for Youth Development

    How can you provide for the distribution of treasured personal property so your children don’t fight over them after you die? Discover how Montana provides for a separate listing of tangible personal property.  The list can assist your personal representative distribute emotional items without family trauma.

  • October 22, 2021
    What You Can Do With a Will and What You Can’t!
    Guest:  Katy Lovell, Legal Services Developer, Aging Services Division

    Learn when a written will works and when it does not.  Become aware of the basic provisions an attorney includes in a will. Learn about a special program that can be used by those 60 and over to write a will at no cost.  Learn about the meaning of phrases in wills such as, “right of representation” or “per stirpes.”

  • October 15, 2021
    Tools for Avoiding Probate on Your Estate and Save Money
    Guest:  Carter Jasper, Ambassador , representing Montana4-H Foundation from Mineral County

    Learn how beneficiary designations on your assets allow you to pass property to your heirs without probate and save your estate money.  Montanans can add Payable on Death (POD) designations checking and savings accounts, and CDs at banks and credit unions.  Transfer on Death (TOD) registrations can be added to your stocks, bonds, and mutual funds.  You can file a Transfer on Death Deeds on real property and avoid probate.  Learn how these designations over-ride a written will.

  • October 8, 2021
    How the Use of Joint Tenancies Can Disinherit Your Kids
    Guest: Brett Schomer, 4-H Leadership Development Associate Specialist, 4-H Center for Youth Development

    Overheard at a local café: “My property is titled in joint tenancy with right of survivorship, I don’t need a will.  Right?” “When I remarried, I placed my house in joint tenancy with my new wife.  I can write a will to leave the property to my kids.  Right?”  “I added my daughter’s name to my checking account. That was the right thing to do, Right?” Hear Marsha’s response. Hint: she says WRONG, WRONG, WRONG!