B2—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, April 19,1950 BY SHEILA MILLER LITHZ Estate plan ning— these two words have taken on a new meaning for a lot of Pennsylvania farm families. The importance and in terest in estate planning can be seen by looking at the calendar of events of many farm organizations, banks, and the county Extension. Barely a week goes by that there isn’t a meeting somewhei j on this topic. So what is estate plan ning? To find out, let’s start with the basics. If we look at the two words that make up estate plan ning, we might get a very simple definition of what it involves. Relying oil the expertise of Webster, we go to the dic tionary and find that the word estate can be defined as ‘possessions or property, especially a person’s property in land and tenements’. It also includes in the definition the fact that an estate is the assets and liabilities left by a person at death. Now, Jet’s look at the word ‘planning’. Webster tells us that planning means ‘to arrange the parts of. Combining the two definitions, we see estate planning is the process of arranging a person’s assets and liabilities they will leave after their death to their heirs. An over-simplification of a complex subject? Yes, but Webster gives us a base on which to start building the system. By taking it one step at a time, you’ll be able to watch the planning process proceed from start to finish, pulling out the parts that fit your life. Now, let’s go back to our What does estate planning mean government took the necessary action to im plement the first federal estate tax in 1939. The first set of stumbling blocks in estate planning were laid down with that legislation. Ever since then people have been trying to figure out what an estate involves, and how they can successfully pass on their farms and businesses to the next generation without paying too many taxes. According to B. Wayne Kelly, an Extension Agricultural Economist at Penn State, an estate in cludes: real estate, cash, checking account, savings account, bonds, stocks, certificates of deposit, in surance, pension benefits, retirement oenefits, In the United States, the experiences and memories for some more information on estate planning. In books and novels about the past, we read how wealthy people in days gone by simply wrote their wills on a sheet of parchment. And upon their death, their wishes for the division of their personal property were solemnly carried out by the town’s magistrate or their family lawyer. In today’s world, death and all its problems are not so easlily solved. Estate planning and inheritance regulations have become more complex. The gpvemment, seeing a source of income slipping through its fingers, stopped the passing down of family fortunes without taxation. to you, your farm? PERFORMANCE FIRST! At Yetter. . . we build performance, quality and rugged dependability into every Yetter Rotary Hoe. The 3400 and 3500 set ened, drop-forged and self-. Our tool bar rotary hoe; cushioned arms This feat tour of any field while insui from 15 feet to 34 feet arw 40 inches These new hoes are versatile, economical, fast in the field, reliable, and easy to operate What is even more important - the; do the job l revocable trusts, household property, automobiles, personal properties, machinery, livestock, and any gifts made to others within three years of the person’s death. No sooner has death oc curred than property of the deceased in the above categories is ‘frozen’ and the Federal Estate Tar is in voked. The value of the property is determined by an appraisal, and taxed ac cordingly. Without proper estate planning, the taxes levied on the estate of the deceased, now referred to as a decedent, can consume all that the individual has worked and struggled for during his or her lifetime. Next week’s Lancaster For your nearest dealer contact: JyL. MANUFACTURING COMPANY mmmtMJMJw Colchester. Illinois «232 t Rhone 30S-775-3211 dSjjrKb 0 "QUALITY FARM EQUIPMENT SINCE 1S30" Distributed by: CUMMINGS & BRICK ER, Distributors of Farm & Irrigation Equipment R.D. #l, Claremont Rd. (Stover Drive) Carlisle, PA 17013 717-249-6720 Serving farmers through Farm Equipment Dealers Fanning will take a closer The continued series will ] look at the Federal Estate found in the front of Sectu Tax and its 1976 revision. B. YOU WANT TO SAVE MONEY AND HAULING PROBLEMS —Let Us Show You An Irrigation System By BETTER-BILT High Pressure Pump USED SPREADERS 1000 gal. Better Bift Vac. • FLAM LAYOUTS • SALES • INSTALLATION • SERVICE SHENK’S FARM SERVICE 501 E. WOODS DRIVE LITITZ, PA 17543 PHONE: 717-626-1151 Home Phone Paul Repine 717 626 2837 MervmNisstey7l7 872 4565 Our Service Trucks Are Radio Dispatched 24 Hr Service Offered 2100 Auger Matic th is hard INC.