Highlights  |  Specific FlexDraft Updates

06/30/2006 - FlexDraft Version 2006.01 released. FlexDraft version 2006.01includes substantial substantive updates, new features to make drafting faster and more accurate, enhanced formatting options, and additional support for Word (through version 2003) and Word Perfect (through version 12).  Version 2006.01 updates include the following (for more details, see the Updates resource within the FlexDraft program):

• New "Quick-Clone" option for instant "mirror image" Wills.  Once you've prepared a Will for the first spouse, you can prepare a mirror image Will for the second spouse in about 10 seconds using the new "Quick-Clone" feature.  Quick-Cloning works even if the spouses have different children and/or name each other in fiduciary appointments.
  
  
• New HIPAA Authorization.  A HIPAA Authorization is now included in the Ancillary documents.
  
  
• Improved Word Support.  FlexDraft now includes a dozen new "Numbering Scheme" documents, each reflecting a different mix of heading formats and document layouts.  You can import any Numbering Scheme into Microsoft Word with less than 10 mouse clicks.  From then on, you can apply the imported Scheme to new FlexDraft documents with only 4 mouse clicks.

• Improved Word Perfect Support.  Word Perfect users can now specify Arial or Roman typeface, font size, left or full justification, and more -- all from within FlexDraft.
  
  
• New Trust Code Provisions Addressed.  Numerous substantive revisions to Will and trust language incorporate and/or address the Texas Legislature's recent amendments to the Texas Trust Code.

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12/01/2004 - FlexDraft Version 2004.02 released. FlexDraft version 2004.02 incorporates enhancements and refinements to version 2004.01, including the following (for more details, see the Updates resource within the FlexDraft program):

• Explanatory "Resources" Improved. Improved discussions of: UPIA "Activation"; Revocable Trust Declarations v. Revocable Trust Agreements; availability and role of separate share trusts in joint trusts; and others.
  
  
• Improved Word and Word Perfect Support.Cross reference "glitches" fixed; miscellaneous formatting improvements.

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09/01/2004 - FlexDraft Version 2004.01 released. FlexDraft version 2004.01 implements Texas' new Uniform Prudent Investor Act, adds improved formatting control and introduces the "Wording Preferences" option to FlexDraft that will give you greater control over the specific wording in your documents. Here's a quick summary. (For a detailed list see Specific FlexDraft Updates below.)

• UPIA Implemented
  
  
  • "Prudent Investor" Rule. The new "Prudent Investor" rule allows investments is all assets and generally requires diversification unless the governing instrument provides otherwise.
    
    
  • Fiduciary Liability. Consistent with UPIA's focus on the duties of fiduciaries, fiduciary liability is now addressed by limiting duties rather than by limiting liability for breech of duties.
    
    
  • Duties at Inception of Trust. The fiduciary's duties at the inception of an estate or trust are now clearly spelled out.
    
• Improved Word and Word Perfect Support
  
  
  • WordPerfect 11. FlexDraft now integrates seamlessly with all versions of WordPerfect up through version 11. (FlexDraft documents are 100% compatible with WordPerfect version 12; the only limitation is that FlexDraft cannot send documents directly to -- and launch -- WordPerfect 12)
    
    
  • Word 2003. FlexDraft now integrates seamlessly with all versions of Word up through version 2003.
    
    
• Other Improvements
  
  
  • "Wording Preferences" and "Default Answers". FlexDraft continues to increase your ability to customize both the drafting process and the finish product, by allowing you to set default answers for certain drafting decisions (such as whether to include additional options in the medical Directive) and to revise "standard" language (such as the list of personal effects).
    
    
  • Improved User Interface. Numerous aspects of the FlexDraft user interface have been refined to reduce errors and facilitate quick, accurate drafting (e.g., QuikPics have been expanded to cover cash gifts).
    

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06/01/2003 - FlexDraft Version 2003.01 released. FlexDraft version 2003.01 provides improved formatting control and enhancements to the user interface, including the following. (For a detailed list see Specific FlexDraft Updates below.)

• Advanced Formatting Control
  
  
  • True Headings. Optionally, any headings in Wills and trusts (Article, Section, Subsection, and Paragraph) may be formatted as separate paragraphs from the text following them (i.e., as "true headings").
    
    
  • Outline Layout. Wills and trusts may be formatted in outline layout (i.e., heading numbers are "negative indented" or "hanging indented" aligned to the left of heading captions and document text). FlexDraft's original "Standard" layout is still available.
    
    
  • Paragraph and Heading Spacing. Spacing between all paragraphs, as well as spacing before and after each level of headings, may be specifically controlled.
    
    
  • Microsoft WORD Heading "Styles." As separate paragraphs, True Headings with automatic paragraph numbering are instantly converted into the appropriate Heading Style paragraphs, opening up the full power of WORD's heading style capabilities. (To enable this feature, simply format your outline numbering levels 1 through 4 to be linked to the styles for heading levels 1 through 4, respectively.)
    
    
• Improved Interface reduces errors. Suspicious birthdates trigger a warning, and impossible "20xx" birthdates trigger a warning and can be automatically converted to "19xx" birthdates. Unanswered frames trigger warnings. Redundant guardian appointments in a Will and a Declaration of Guardian trigger a warning.
  
  
• An optional Change of Situs clause is now available in Wills and trusts.
  
  
• An optional "Agent to Decide" clause is now available as a third choice in the Directive to Physicians ("Living Will").
  

11/01/2002 - FlexDraft Version 2002.02 released. FlexDraft version 2003.01 provides numerous improvements benefiting both current and new users, including:

• More and Improved "Resources". FlexDraft's on-line "Resources" provide context sensitive help and legal commentary for specific questions and options throughout the system. Numerous new Resources have been added and many existing Resources have been improved.
  
  
• Numerous technical refinements to both the FlexDraft program and the Installer program.

06/10/2002 - FlexDraft Version 2002.01 released., FlexDraft version 2003.01 provides many technical improvements, including the following:

• Improved WORD and WordPerfect Support from CAPS. CAPSoft Development recently released version 3.5 of CAPS User (a/k/a "WinCaps"), the run time "engine" used by FlexDraft. With the release of version 3.5, WinCaps and FlexDraft support WordPerfect 2000 and WordPerfect 2002, and WORD 2000 and WORD XP. The WinCaps 3.5 upgrade is provided free to all licensed users.
  
  
• Simpler, More Advanced Setup. With its improved Setup Program, FlexDraft 2002.01 provides automatic detection and setup of WordPerfect and/or WORD, completely eliminating the need to manually set your Word Processor Preferences in WinCaps.
  
  
• 100% On Line Delivery and Upgrade. For several months, the FlexDraft web site has provided on line updates to all licensed users. It now supports on line delivery of the FlexDraft Setup Program to new customers.

Specific FlexDraft Updates
detailed list of all material system updates

General Updates
Will & Trust Updates
Irrevocable Trust Updates
Ancillary Document Updates

General Updates

• v. 2003.01 (rel. 06/01/2003)
  
  
• Birth dates for clients and children in the wrong century now can be automatically changed to "19xx" and certain unreasonable birth dates now trigger a warning
  
  
• Attorney Setup; the number of attorneys specified may now be less than the number of attorney licenses
  
  
• Default Answers added to Setup; however, there are VERY FEW default answers provided for so far
  
  
• Other ("a/k/a") and former ("f/k/a") names may now be specified for clients
  
  
• Default client name; (i) "Jr." and "Sr." clients still have a comma after the last name but default for other suffixes (II, III, etc.) no longer includes the comma; (ii) joint form of address for couple with same last name defaults to M & M [client name] and now excludes spouse's individual name
  
  
• Client initials now default to uppercase
  
  
• Unanswered Frame warnings added to selected portions of Setup dialogue
  
  
• Warning added to Draft Selected Documents frame where invalid word processor Export File Format is selected
  
  
• Resources added and enhanced throughout the system
  
  
• Table of Contents glitch (that failed to disable table of contents in existing documents when Export File Format changed from WordPerfect to Rich Text Format) fixed
  
  
• Very basis (rudimentary) support for WordPerfect 6/7/8 Export File Format added (however, WordPerfect 5.1 should still be used for ALL versions of WordPerfect)

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Wills and Trust Updates

• v. 2003.01 (rel. 06/01/2003)
  
  
  • Trustee Resignation; (i) long form now specific as to time (5:00 p.m.) and as to last "business" day for 30 day resignation notices; and (ii) Trustee resignations now expressly not effective until successor qualifies.
    
    
  • Executor & Trustee (& certain other) genders now easier to fill in
    
    
  • Guardian for Children; warning added for redundant guardian appointments in Will and separate Declaration
    
    
  • New "Change of Situs" option added
    
    
  • Plan Benefits Trusts; "final or proposed treasury regulations" >>> "treasury regulations"
    
    
  • Trustee Appointer/Remover by class; when a previously selected class (e.g., "my spouse") becomes invalid due to changes to other answers (e.g., marital status changed to not married), the invalid class now becomes unanswered (and the error code is no longer displayed)
    
    
  • QDOT Article; Statement Of Intent ("savings clause") wording now mirrors other statement of intent clauses (e.g., for marital deduction qualification)
    
    
  • Pour Over Wills; minimum age for Qualified Individuals may now be specified directly
    
    
  • Wills; QuikPic lists for executor and trustee now suppress listing of the testator
    
    
  • All Wills and Trusts, (i) optional "true headings" added (headings as separate paragraphs) and (ii) optional outline format added (progressive left indent for headings and text paragraphs)
    
    
  • Joint Revocable Trusts; (i) spouse who survives by any period, if any--otherwise the 2nd named client--is presumed to survive IF there's a QTIP or a gift of interest in spouse's retirement benefits; and (ii) Records, Books of Account, and Reports, "my Surviving Spouse" >>> "the Surviving Spouse"
    
    
  • Up front Executor Appointment; 2 or more sole executors named, section caption; "Executor" >>> "Executors"
    
    
  • Administrative Provisions; Plan Benefits Trusts; "Code section" >>> "Code Section"
    
    
  • Successor Co-Executor and Co-Trustee; where last named successor is "Jr." or "Sr.", the double period at the end of the sentence is now removed
    
    
  • Contingent Trusts; If Contingent Trusts are not created, (i) warning now provided during dialogue and (ii) "if ..." sentence fragment in residuary disposition now eliminated
    
    
  • Childless clients; improper references to non-existent "residuary to children" section eliminated from all wills and trusts, and Surviving Spouse's Remaining Trust Property disposition corrected to go directly to contingent beneficiaries
    
    
  • Bypass (Family) Trust; spouse's power of appointment, the introductory clause "If my wife/husband survives me" is now eliminated where the trust terminates on the spouse's death (i.e., where it is created only if the spouse survives); the clause is retained in "Pot" style trusts (e.g., where the trust's termination may be extended until the youngest child is age x
    
    
  • "Marital Deduction Amount" and "Tax Free Amount" definitions; "Internal Revenue Code" >>> "Code"
    
    
  • "Up-front" fiduciary appointments Article with only one section; section number and caption now removed (this was a problem only in trust agreements [and Wills with no trusts] naming >1 sole trustee [executor])
    
    
  • S Trusts and other misc provisions; "_ 1361" >>> "section 1361" IF using WORD (which translated "§" to "_"; WordPerfect continues to display "§")
    
    
  • "children" paragraph; opening spaces removed (Joint settlor trusts) and spaces after colon conformed
    
    
  • Qualified Individuals; minimum age now may be specified either directly or by linking to the Sole or CO-Trustee Age or the Contingent Trust vesting age
    
    
  • Active GST Plans (i.e., selected tax planning type is either "Marital/GST Combined" or "Active GST"); (i) warnings clarified that active GST planning is not fully operational and should not be used, and (ii) improved resources discussing both varieties of active GST planning
    
    
  • Disclaimer Plans (i.e., selected tax planning type is "Disclaimer"); (i) if the spouse is given a power of appointment over the Disclaimer Trust (Bypass Trust), then (A) dialog now gives a Warning and (B) the POA clause begins "subject to Section x (negating powers of appointment over disclaimed property)"; also (ii) formatting glitch (Article heading for "Specific Gifts" printed even when no specific gifts were made) fixed
    
    
  • Child's, Grandchild's & Descendant's Trusts; distributions to guardian now available even when the client has no minor children

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Irrevocable Trust Updates

• v. 2003.01 (rel. 06/01/2003)
  
  
• Withdrawal Rights in sep share trusts; "descendant of the Beneficiary's" >>> "descendant of the Beneficiary" (same for "of the Child's")
  
  
• Withdrawal Rights Article; "Annual Exclusion Amount" mention of $10,000 is now $11,000
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Ancillary Documents Updates

• v. 2003.01 (rel. 06/01/2003)
  

• All ancillary documents; when double spaced formatting is selected, all ancillary documents are now double spaced
  
  
• Declaration Guardian for Children; (i) definition of "children", punctuation glitch (missing period) now fixed; (ii) warning added for redundant guardian appointments in Will and separate Declaration
  
  
• Medical POA Information Statement, reference to abortion now included only if principal is female
  
  
• Directive; (i) third option added "Agent to make decision" whether to withhold life support, and (ii) reference to "directive" having no effect if "I" am pregnant is now to "a directive to withhold life sustaining treatment" having no effect if "the declarant" is pregnant.
  
  
• Medical POA and all financial POA's; QuikPic lists for Agents now suppress listing of the principal
  
  
• Guardian declarations; QuikPic lists for Agents now suppress listing of the declarant
  
  
• "Save Answers?" option added to misc. dialogs (drafts & finals letter, bene desig memo)
  
  
• Long Form Durable Power of Attorney; "springing"/durability clause (and headings) revised to mirror current wording in statutory durable power
  
  
• Declaration Guardian for Self, Dialog; pop-up list added for no. of guardians of estate only and for person only
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