Conservation Easement Workshop November 2

The Frontera Land Alliance

Conservation Easement Workshop

November 2, 2012

The Frontera Land Alliance, the El Paso area’s only non-profit 501 c (3) land trust organization, is hosting a Conservation Workshop on November 2 at the downtown El Paso Doubletree Hotel, 600 N. El Paso Street, just south of I-10.

Please join our guest speakers—several attorneys from Braun and Gresham, PLLC and Robertson/Smith Attorneys at Law—to hear all about the many conservation tools that are available.  Two sessions will be offered. The first (8 a.m.-4:00 p.m.) is aimed at advisors; the second (8 a.m.-1:00 p.m.) is oriented toward the needs of landowners and the general public eager to learn how a conservation easement can be of use to them. 

Half-day Landowner Session (8-1:00): This session is for landowners and the general public. Topics: What landowners need to know about intrusion on surface use – Oil & Gas, Pipelines, Power Lines, and Condemnation; Wildlife Management for Property Taxes; Estate Planning; Introduction to Conservation Easements; Landowner comments about experience on donating conservation easements; Farm and Ranch Properties—Family Legacy or Liability; and Closing Comments.

·         Admission is free for owners of ranches, farms or natural areas. All others please pay $30.

All-day Advisor Session (8-4:00): This is a full-day workshop for attorneys, estate planners, CPAs and appraisers, who will learn how conservation tools can benefit their clients. (All participants earn continuing-education credits.) Topics: Estate Planning; Conservation Easements 101; Farm and Ranch Properties: Family Legacy or Liability; What Landowners Need to Know about Intrusion on Surface Use – Oil & Gas, Pipelines, Power Lines, and Condemnation; Wildlife Management for Property Taxes. Cost to each advisor: $80.00, which includes breakfast, lunch, and all materials, in addition to earning continuing-education credits.

·         6.5 attorney/estate planners  (To clarify: An estate planner doesn’t get credit unless they are an attorney or a certified financial planner);

·         4.0 for CPA’s,

·         7.0 for CFP’s  

·         6.0 for real estate 

Over view of topics:

Estate Planning

This course examines the issues and strategies for asset protection, limiting liability, planning for mental disability to avoid conservatorship, dealing with probate, minimizing or eliminating federal estate tax, and the options for leaving land to heirs. The impending end of the Bush-era tax cuts makes these issues more challenging for landowners. This overview of issues and strategies will equip you to identify issues related to estate planning and  answer initial questions from your clients.

Conservation Easements 101

This introductory course covers the nuts and bolts of this topic, including conservation easements basics, how they generate financial benefits, such as federal income and estate tax savings, how best to structure transactions; practical considerations in negotiating conservation easement terms, selecting and working with land trusts, and the use of conservation easements with other planning strategies.

Farm and Ranch Properties — Family Legacy or Liability?

Review of strategies and tools for estate planning that involve significant rural land holdings. Farms, ranches and recreational lands present unique challenges to estate planners if the family wishes to keep land undeveloped. Tools such as conservation easements, sale of development rights, sales of ecosystem services, tenants in common and management trusts will be covered.

Seating is limited. For more information or to register please contact Janaé Reneaud Field, Executive Director, The Frontera Land Alliance, 915-351-8352 or janae@fronteralandalliance.org.

Contact:

Janae’ Reneaud Field

Executive Director

The Frontera Land Alliance
Janae@Fronteralandalliance.org
Office Phone: 915-351-TFLA (8352)
Fax: 915-351-8353
Office Address: 1201 N. Mesa St., El Paso Texas 79902
Mailing Address: 3800 N. Mesa, Suite A2-258,  El Paso, Texas 79902
www.Fronteralandalliance.org

P.S. Don’t forget to sign up for the November 2, ½ day or full day Conservation Workshop.

Advisors can earn continued education credits: 6.0 attorney/estate planners  (To clarify: An estate planner doesn’t get credit unless they are an attorney or a certified financial planner); 4.0 for CPA’s, 7.0 for CFP/estate planners, and 6.0 for real estate. Seating is limited. For more information or to register please contact Janaé Reneaud Field, Executive Director, The Frontera Land Alliance, 915-351-8352 or janae@fronteralandalliance.org.