William E. Hart

Biography:

Bill Hart is co-chairman of the firm’s Estate Planning and Administration Department and a member of the Business/Finance Department. Bill focuses on estate planning work for people of all walks of life, including professionals, owners of closely-held businesses, people with artistic and literary property, and those with real estate holdings in other states and countries. His practice includes probate estate and trust administration, business matters, non profit organizations and taxation.

In the community, Bill serves as chairman of the planned giving committee of South Congregational Church in Amherst, as a building committee member for the Hitchcock Center for the Environment, and as a trustee of Amherst Academy. He has served as cubmaster and scoutmaster for the “best troop in the universe.” Bill serves on the professional advisors board of the Mason-Wright Foundation and is actively involved as a planned giving advisor and volunteer for numerous non-profit organizations. He speaks frequently to professional and community groups about estate planning. Bill was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2013 in the area of trusts and estates.

Bill is a member of the board of directors of the Estate Planning Council of Hampden County and a past president of the Pioneer Valley Estate Planning Council.

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Related Professional Experience:

Bill Hart commenced his practice with the firm of Harter, Secrest & Emery in his hometown, Rochester, New York, in 1972, and he has practiced in Massachusetts since 1977. He was previously a partner of Brown, Hart & Kaplan, of Amherst.

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Publications:

• Author: Federal Estate and Gift Tax Rules Now Permanent, Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas, LLP: Estate Planning and Administration Bulletin (February 2013).
• Author in "Drafting Wills and Trusts in Massachusetts," MCLE, 1992 – present.

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Representative Experience:

Mr. Hart provides individual and business clients with tax-sensitive, strategic counsel with respect to a wide variety of matters, including:

• disposition of assets by lifetime gifts
• wills
• basic and complex trusts
• second-home planning
• business succession planning
• conservation restrictions on real estate
• family limited liability companies and limited partnerships
• retirement account beneficiaries

His work helps clients minimize estate, gift, income and generation-skipping taxes in connection with the transfer of assets within families and to charities.