- 13 - Smith testified on direct examination as follows: Q Okay. When you say, estate planning, did you recall -- did you meet with Betty Pace Miller, and I believe you said, her husband -- A Yes. Q -- to discuss their wishes and desires with regard to estate planning? A Yes. As I recall, they had, within a short period of time before that, suffered the loss of a son who was in his twenties. They had two other children and a sister of Mr. Miller that they were concerned about taking care of, as well as themselves. * * * * * * * A She had an intent to look to the -- taking care of her two children that remained alive, and also to take care of her husband. And then after her husband was taken care of, to -- whatever was left after that would be available for her children, if anything. * * * * * * * Q Okay. We've talked about taxes, and we've talked about marital deductions. Can you say what the primary -- her intent was, based on your conversations with her? A She wanted to see that her two children that she set up, they both set up trusts for her during their lifetime, were taken care of, and his sister, then they wanted to see that he was taken care of, and then they wanted any kind of -- what was left over after taxes were paid out of that trust that were set up for the children, to be available to them. From the testimony, we conclude that there were several intended beneficiaries, and the documents were drafted to reflect decedent's intent to provide for all of them. Although Smith also asserted that decedent intended that all of the taxes bePage: Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Next
Last modified: May 25, 2011