Mary Jo Hudson        Harlan Louis

Unique estate, tax, and healthcare planning issues for same-sex or unmarried couples will be the topic of the Columbus Jewish Foundation’s upcoming April 26 Legal and Tax Committee lunch meeting to be held at the downtown law offices of Bailey Cavalieri, LLC.

Harlan Louis and Mary Jo Hudson, attorneys with the Bailey Cavalieri law firm, will be the keynote speakers. Harlan Louis is an Ohio State Bar Association Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Trust, and Probate Law, and a member of the Columbus Jewish Foundation’s Board of Trustees. Mary Jo Hudson, a former Director of the Ohio Department of Insurance, is a member of the Board of Directors for the Human Rights Campaign, and served on the Columbus Bar Association Task Force on Sexual Orientation.

Despite the growing number of nontraditional families, including unmarried opposite-sex couples and same-sex couples, the estate planning, tax, and probate laws do not recognize nontraditional couples. Nontraditional couples have no rights under intestacy laws that control property transfers when there is no Will, and they do not get the unlimited estate tax deduction. Without careful planning, the surviving partner of a nontraditional relationship will receive nothing upon the death from his or her partner. They may also be restricted from providing input on end-of-life and burial decisions.

The presentation will address a range of estate planning strategies to choose from so that their estates will be distributed as intended, minimization of gift and estate taxes, and important provisions about finances and healthcare during either partner's incapacity.

The Foundation’s Legal and Tax Advisory Committee is comprised of lawyers, accountants, insurance professionals, and financial planners who act in advisory capacity to the Foundation on various legal and tax issues. Its members disseminate information regarding Foundation programs to the legal, accounting, and insurance professionals, and acts as a bridge between the Foundation and the general community.

The hour-long lunch meeting will be held on Thursday, April 26, in the board room of the Bailey Cavalieri law firm, located at 10 West Broad Street, #2100 in downtown Columbus.

A Kosher lunch will be available for $9. RSVP at (614) 338-2365.