Biography of DONNA D. VINCENTI
                     ATTORNEY / MEMBER

DONNA earned a Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, with distinctions in the majors (sociology and human development) from Colby College in 1978, and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Maine School of Law in 1983.  She was a member of the Maine Law Review and the International Law Society, and was awarded the American Jurisprudence Award for Estate Planning in 1983. She was admitted to the Maine Bar in 1983 and the Connecticut bar in 1984.  She has practiced law in Connecticut since 1984.

DONNA’s practice focuses on estate taxation and planning, with a special interest in  charitable giving and land conservation planning; representation of individual and corporate fiduciaries and beneficiaries in the administration of trusts and estates;  preparation of estate and gift tax returns; elder law;  planning for disability;  and tax-exempt organization law.  She also practices in the area of residential real estate transactions.  She believes that the practice of law is both a profession and a privilege, and she cherishes her role as a counselor to, as well as an advocate for, her clients.  Her background in sociology and human development is brought to bear in working with clients and families dealing with the legal issues surrounding disability, aging, and death and dying. 

In addition to providing traditional estate and tax planning services (credit shelter and generation-skipping trusts, marital trusts, special needs trusts, qualified personal residence trusts, and the like), Donna is committed to assisting clients in “doing well by doing good,” by creating non-profit organizations, private foundations, donor advised funds, charitable remainder and charitable lead trusts, and other planned giving vehicles.  She is especially interested in working with families to teach younger generations responsibility through philanthropy.  She works closely with non-profits and local community foundations, assisting clients in fulfilling their charitable goals.  Having served for ten years on the board of the New Hartford Land Trust, Donna is also committed to the preservation of farm and forest land and natural habitat.  She has worked with clients and local land trusts, as well as the Connecticut Farmland Trust, in preserving land in Litchfield County through the granting of conservation easements.

Her own charitable endeavors include having served on the advisory committee for the Hayley’s Hope and Michaela’s Miracle Fund of the Connecticut Chapter of the MS Society, and assisted the Petit Family Foundation with fundraising efforts.  She served on the board of the Tri-State Chamber of Commerce and obtained tax-exempt status for the Tri-State Chamber Foundation.  She has assisted many local non-profit organizations, from local theatrical and dance groups to an equestrian program for persons with disabilities, in obtaining recognition of tax-exempt status, and she advises non-profit organizations on how to maintain their tax-exempt status.  She represents buyers of Habitat for Humanity homes in the Northwest Corner pro bono (free of charge).  She has offered her services pro bono to clients of the Northwestern Connecticut Aids Project, preparing wills, powers of attorney, living wills, and health care proxies for persons infected with HIV.  She is a Professional Advisor to both the Community Foundation of Northwest Connecticut and the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. 

DONNA is a member of the Executive Committee of the Estates and Probate Section of the Connecticut Bar Association, and serves on the editorial board of the Estates & Probate Newsletter.  As co-chair of the State Tax Sub-Committee, she was actively involved in efforts to reform Connecticut’s transfer tax system in 2005.  As chair of the Standards of Title Sub-Committee, she assisted in commenting on revised Standards of Title pertaining to decedents’ estates.  As a member of the State Law Sub-Committee, she assisted with drafting alternative perpetuities legislation for trusts.  She belongs to the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the American Bar Association.  Donna is a Past President of the Connecticut Estate and Tax Planning Council, Inc.   She is a full member of STEP (The Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners), an international network of experienced Trusts and Estates professionals.